coral reef ecosystem quiz

polyps

a coral reef is made up of many small coral______

dredging( dig channels for the passage of boats), fishing gear, human contact, anchor damage

four human activities that threaten the survival of coral reefs:

in order for the ocean community to survive it needs biodiversity, the coral reefs are home for many different types of organisms, if one organism took over, everything would be off balance. For an ecosystem to survive weather problems disease etc. there needs to be biodiversity.

how do coral reefs create biodiversity?

hurricanes, earth quakes, water spouts, tsunamis, aerial exposure, salinity levels

what are some natural threats to coral reefs?

mutualism, the coral give them a place to live, and carbon dioxide, the zooxanthellae give most of the nutrients to coral and give it color and food and oxygen by photosynthesis

what is the relationship between coral and zooxanthellae?

ocean environment-provides habitats(nursery), food source, removes carbon dioxide(animals living in it), provides protection, biodiversity human environment-tourism, barrier for wave action,jobs, food source for humans, medicines

why are coral reefs important to the ocean environment? to the human environment?