JANUARY TERMTROPICAL ECOLOGY OF BELIZEBY SIRI SKOWRONEK AND JORDAN

MASSEY

Coral Reef Ecosystem

What is a Coral Reef?A. An ecosystem formed by millions of coral organisms called

polypsi. A system of interconnected elements, formed by the interaction of a

community of organisms within their environment

ii. Genetically identical invertebrate clones that share digestive and nervous systems

iii. Capture prey with stinging tentacles called nematocyst within specialized cells called cnidocytes

iv. Sessile

v. Live in tropical waters close to the surface where sun can reach algae

vi. Cover less than 1% of ocean floor, but support 25% of all marine creatures

B. Two organisms responsible for building coral reefi. Corals

ii. Protista

Coral Symbiosis

A. Zooxanthellae are single-celled algae that live within coral and give coral its color

B. Photosynthesis allows algae to give off oxygen and nutrients that are consumed by the coral

C. Polyp provides carbon dioxide for algae

Coral Polyp

A. Translucent animals with microscopic algae called zooxantellae living in them

B. Place for zooxantellae to live

C. Limestone skeleton called calicle

D. Reef forms when a polyp attaches itself to a rock on the sea floor then buds thousands of clones that are connected creating a colony that acts like a single organism

E. Colonies grow over hundreds and thousands of years, joining with other colonies to become reefs

Types of Coral Reefs

A. Fringingi. Closest to coastline

ii. Youngest geologically

iii. Grows outward from shore with a lagoon in between

B. Barrieri. Parallel to coastline separated by a deep

lagoon

ii. 1-25 miles long, 60+ feet deep

C. Atolli. Open sea reef in ring, oval, or horseshoe shape

Types of Coral

Lettuce Coral

Gorgonian Brain Coral

Fire Coral

Branching Coral

Coral Reefs in Belize

A. Belize’s Barrier Reefi. 155 miles long

ii. Second longest reef in the world

iii. Begins at border of Belize and Mexico and continues to Guatemala

iv. Variety of habitats1) Coral reef

2) Offshore cayes

3) Mangrove lagoons

Invertebrates in the Coral Reef

Upside-down JellySpotted Eagle Ray Donkey Dung Sea Cucumber

Cushion Sea Star Spiny Lobster Reef Squid

Vertebrates in the Coral Reef

French Grunt Gray Angelfish

Smooth Trunkfish Queen Angelfish

Blue Tang

Mangroves

A. Nursery and protection for fish, crustaceans, sponges, and corals

B. Filters runoff to prevent destruction of coral

C. Food source

Threats to Coral

A. Trash

B. Invasive speciesi. Lionfish

C. Diseasesi. Bleaching due to temperature change or pollution

D. Overfishing

E. Tourismi. Cruise ships bring in 100+ snorkelers at a time with

poorly trained guides1) Touch and damage coral

2) Drag gear along sandy bottom creating a dusting over coral which locals have to clean off

Works Cited Humann, P., & DeLoach, N. (2002). Reef Fish Identification: Florida,

Caribbean and Bahamas (3rd ed., p. 10, 14-15, 94-95, 138). Jacksonville, Fla.: New World Publications.

  Idaz, J., Greenberg, M., & Young, M. (2007). Fishwatcher’s Field

Guide. Seahawk Press.

  Kaplan, E. (1982). Peterson’s Field Guides: Coral Reefs Caribbean

and Florida. (p. 10). New York: Houghton Mifflin Company.

Corals, Coral Pictures, Coral Facts-National Geographic. (n.d.). Retrieved January 23, 2015, from http://animals.nationalgeographic.com/animals/invertebrates/coral/

A. Sabal, Personal Interview, January 19, 2015.