5

Module 18

Science and Health

CORAL REEFS & THEIR IMPORTANCE

A DepEd-BEAM Distance Learning Program supported by the Australian Agency for International Development
 To the Learner

Dear Learner,

Hello! Good day! Are you happy today? It’s good to be happy all
the time so that you can understand your lesson easily. If you are not
happy, change your mood now. Wear your big smile and be happy. Let
us learn the wonderful coral reefs.

Let’s Learn This

You have learned in the previous lesson about hollow, soft bodied
animals that live in the sea. They are called coelenterates. Corals
belong to this group. When these animals die, their remains consisting
of skeletons are left behind at the bottom of the warm shallow sea. It
accumulates and builds up over a long period of time near the
coastline and form what is known as coral reefs.

Coral reefs are very important to marine animals and to all of us.

Let’s Try This

TRUE or FALSE. Write True if the statement is true and False if it is

not true.

________1. Coral reefs are not important to our country’s fisheries.

________2. There are three forms of coral reefs.
________3. Coral reefs protect coastal villages.
________4. Coral reefs come from the waste of the marine animals.
________5. Coral reefs form where the water is very deep.

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 Let’s Study This

Coral reefs are colorful rock-like deposits in warm ocean waters

where the water is shallow.
Coral reefs are beautiful and colorful due to the presence of
different kinds of colorful fishes and other marine animals including
echinoderms, mollusks and crustaceans.

There are three forms of coral reefs: fringing reefs, barrier reefs
and atolls.

1. Fringing reefs are located close to shore, separated from land

by only shallow water.

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2. Barrier reefs lie farther
offshore, separated from
land by lagoons more than
10 meters deep.

GREAT BARRIER REEF, AUSTRALIA

3. Atolls are found far offshore

and compromise a ring-shaped
reef enclosing a circular lagoon.

Atoll

How important are the Coral Reefs?

1. Coral Reefs are Habitats for Marine Animals

Coral reefs form a varied,

complex structure that serves as a
habitat for many other marine
animals.

Coral reefs are not only

beautiful. They are also useful. It
homes many other animals like
snails, shrimps, jellyfish, starfish,
sea anemone and other kinds of
fish. CORAL REEFS

The coral reef serves as nursery and hatchery to numerous

varieties of fish and other edible sea animals. Its complex structures
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make it a safe place where fish lay eggs. It is also here where the eggs
hatch and the young offspring grow.

The coral reef homes about 3,000 species of corals and other
marine animals.

2. Coral reefs are Rich Sources of Marine Food

Because reefs are habitats, hatcheries and nurseries to a large

number of marine animals, they become rich fishing grounds.

ABUNDANT CATCH OF FISH

The marine inhabitants of the reef are sources of our food and of
livelihood for others. The coral reefs supply large quantities of protein
which Filipinos eat. As long as the coral reefs exist, the fishermen will
always have an abundant catch of fish, shrimps, crabs, shellfish, and
other edible marine animals.

3. Coral Reefs are Protectors and Wave Breakers

Being an archipelagic
country, the Philippines is
bordered or fringed by
coral reefs which protects
its shorelines. Coral reefs
are wave-resistant
underwater ridges. It act as
wave breakers to soften the
impact of typhoons on
coastal areas.
CORAL REEF ISLAND

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 Coral reefs protect coastal villages by protecting their shorelines
and acting as self-breakwaters or barrios. About 2700 kilometer of the
Philippine coastal areas is covered by coral reefs. There are about 488
kinds of corals in the Philippine waters.

4. Coral Reefs Serve as Science Laboratories

OIL EXPLORATION ON ANCIENT REEFS

Coral reefs are the subject of research for many geologists and
biologists. Some of the world’s largest oil and gas fields are in ancient
reefs. Researchers study modern reefs to understand the mechanism
of formation, migration and entrapment of petroleum in ancient reefs.

The reefs also provide important clues for environmental studies.

Reefs have been found to be very sensitive to environmental changes.
Increased water temperature which occurs during an El Niño can leave
marks on the coral. Reef growth patterns can also provide a record of
changes in sea level.

Coral reefs are important research and teaching tool. It

constitutes a natural laboratory in which students can study
relationships between organisms and their environment.

5. Other Uses of Coral Reefs

Coral reefs also provide medicinal products and other resources.

These other resources include corals, shells, ornaments and materials
for road and building construction.

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 Coral reefs also serve as a tourist attraction. The combination of
the white sand beach and the presence of the beautiful and colorful
coral reefs make a place attractive. The colorful marine animals and
corals become a pleasing scenery.

Let’s Do This

Put √ if the statement is the benefit we get from coral reefs and X if it
is not a benefit.

_____1. Coral reefs provide medicinal products.

_____2. Coral reefs serve as habitat for sharks.

_____3. Coral reefs are important to research and as teaching tools.

_____4. Coral reefs are rich sources of marine food.

_____5. Coral reefs serve as best spots for atomic bomb test.

_____6. Coral reefs are the natural habitat to marine animals.

_____7. Coral reefs serve as tourist attraction.

_____8. Coral reefs cause formation of tidal waves.

_____9. Coral reefs serve as hatchery to different kinds of fishes.

_____10. Coral reefs serve as hatchery for birds.

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 Let’s Do More

Match column A with column B. Write the letter before the number.

A B
_____1. Atolls
_____2. Corals
_____3. Importance of Coral
Reefs
_____4. Coral Reefs
_____5. Fringing reefs
a. Colorful rock-like deposits in warm,
shallow ocean water
b. Reefs located close to shore,
separated from land by only shallow
water
c. are soft bodied marine animals, but
they form a hard shell-like material
d. Reefs found offshore and comprise a
ring-shaped reefs enclosing a circular
lagoon
e. serves as wave breaker and habitat of
marine animals

Let’s Remember This

o Coral reefs are colorful rock-like and shell-like deposits of

soft-bodied marine animals that have accumulated and build
up over the years in warm, shallow ocean waters.
o Coral reefs have three forms: fringing reefs, barrier reefs
and atolls.
o Coral reefs are habitats, hatcheries and nurseries of marine
animals.
o Coral reefs act as wave breakers.
o Coral reefs are rich sources of marine foods. It serves as
Science Laboratories.
o Coral reefs provide medicinal products, ornaments,
materials for road and building construction. It also attracts
tourists.

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 Let’s Test Ourselves

Choose the letter of the correct answer.

1. Where do coral reefs come from?
a. Build up of sediments
b. Remains of skeleton of fishes
c. Remains of skeleton of giant turtles
d. Remains of skeleton of coelenterates
2. In which kind of water does the coral grow?
a. Clear, deep and warm
b. Clean, shallow and warm
c. Muddy, shallow and cool
d. Muddy, deep and warm
3. What is formed when coral colonies grow close to the shore?
a. Atoll b. Barrier Reef c. Fringing reef d. Artificial reef
4. How long does it take for a coral reef to form?
a. For a few years
b. For a few months
c. Over a short period of time
d. Over a long period of time
5. Why are coral reefs important?
a. Coral reefs are used as our food.
b. Coral reefs serve as shelter for marine life.
c. Coral reefs are used as fishing grounds of scuba divers.
d. Coral reefs are used as foundation of high-rise buildings.

Science Fact File

The Great Barrier Reef in Australia is largest group of coral reefs
in the world.
This reef is famous for its beauty. Billions of living coral polyps
are attached to the reef. The colors of these polyps are blue, green,
purple, red and yellow. These colors and the colors of many animals
living there make the reef looks like a lovely sea garden.

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 Answer Key

Let’s Try This

1. False
2. True
3. True
4. False
5. False
Let’s Do This
1. √ 6. √
2. X 7. √
3. √ 8. X
4. √ 9. √
5. X 10. X

Let’s Do More
1. d
2. c
3. e
4. a
5. b

Let’s Test Ourselves

1. d
2. b
3. c
4. d
5. b

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