KEYSTONE NATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL

Coral Reef Research

Paper
Part 1 Research Paper (Lesson 1-3)
Nadia Osman

CORAL REEFS: RESEARCH PAPER

1. Explain what a coral reef is and how its created

Coral reefs are some of the most diverse ecosystems in the world. They are large
underwater structures. They are formed when free swimming coral larvae attach to
submerged rocks along the edges of islands or continents. As the coral grow and expand,
reefs take on three of the major characteristics fringing, barrier reefs, or Atoll forms.

2. Discuss the locations where the coral reef are commonly found and why this
environment is important to tits growth and development
Coral reefs are found in all three of the earths oceans that have portions in the tropics
the Atlanta, Pacific, and Indian. However, coral reefs are not randomly scattered through
these great oceans. They are determined by their requirements. Coral reefs require
sunlight found in clear shallow ocean water. They also require warm water. Corals can
survive brief exposures to extreme temperature for about 17-34 degrees Celsius. The
earths coral reefs are mainly concentrated in areas that have shallow waters with optimal
conditioning for coral growth.

3. List the different types of coral reefs and discuss what the different types of corals are.
There are 3 types of coral reefs. The most common of the being the fringing reef. This
type of reef grows seaward directly from the shore. They form borders along the
shoreline and surrounding islands. Atolls also being one of the type of the coral reefs, are
forms, when a fringing reef continuous to grow upward from a volcanic island that has

sun entirely below sea level, an atoll is formed. Atolls are usually oval in shape with an
open lagoon in the center. And lastly, the Barrier reefs. They are similar to fringing reefs
in that they also border a shoreline; however, they are separated from land by an expense
of water.

4. Describe some of the type of plants and animals that live in the coral reefs.
Coral reefs are home to an abundant variety of creatures, i.e. fish, turtles, sharks, eel,
crabs, shrimps, sea urchins, sponges, and most importantly, algae. Coral reefs have some
of the highest biodiversity in the world, like up to 3,500 species of plants and animals
including over 200 types of coral in the Guam (Pacific ocean). The two major groups of
animals inhibit coral reefs are both the vertebrates and the invertebrates.

5. Explain the five ways that coral reefs benefit us human beings.

The corals take carbon dioxide out of the water as they grow so it reduces the

greenhouse gas.
They act as breakwaters to protect beaches from damage by the surf.
The corals are breading grounds for many marine animals that are food for

humans (mainly fish).

They create a solid structure tha grows upward and creates land surface evenly

where people can live.

They also benefit the economy of local areas by providing tourists.

6. Describe 3 major threats to coral reef

Careless tourists: Careless boating, diving, snorkeling and fishing and also people
touching reefs, stirring up sediments and collecting coral all either destroy the

reefs environment, or even kill the coral.

Pollution: With resorts and urban and industrial reef and many more are poisoning

the reefs. They are dumped in the oceans or are carried by river systems.
Destructive fishing: Careless boating and fishing technics which including
cyanide fishing, blast fishing and muro-ami (banging on the reef with sticks) is
one of the greatest threats to cold-water reefs.

7. Discuss the issue of protecting the restoring those unique and valuable ecosystems.
What are the governments doing to protect coral reefs? What can you do to protect coral
reefs? List any possible alternatives.
Since coral reefs are the homes of many organism and fish, they are threatened by fishers
and pollution as well as many other factors. Thats why many organizations have been
created to protect and conserve coral reefs like the Coral Reef Task Force (CRTS) in
1998. Other organizations like the NOAA has the responsibility to conserve coral reef
ecosystems. NOAAs coral reef conservation efforts work with scientific, private,
government and non-governmental organizations to achieve the goals of the CRTF.

There are many ways we can help/protect coral reefs. One being, conserving water; the
less water we use, the less runoff and waste water will pollute our oceans. When trying to
restore coral, the basic principle has been the same for many years. Secure broken corals
so they will survive. Now this technique has been advances to creating nurseries for
corals to grow in and later be moved to the ocean. Meanwhile, governments do protect

coral reefs by doing thinks like creating marine preserves, restricting fishing and diving
in specific locations.

BIBLIOGRAPHY: CORAL REEFS

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www.teachoceanscience.net
www.oceanservice.noaa.gov
www.nature.org
www.defenders.org