What is coral?

Its a living organism!

It is an invertebrate 2 different types:
Reef Building: Hermatypic
Solitary: Ahermatypic
Sun Coral Polyps

Coral is cousins to jellyfish and anemones

(Cnidarians) Today we will talk mainly about reef building coral

Where Can You Find Coral Reefs?

Coral is found all over

the world:
Tropical Temperate Polar

Only tropical corals

build reefs
Coral reefs around the world

Classification
Phylum: Cnidaria
Class: Anthozoa Radically symmetric Sessile animals

Structure
Made up of hundreds of thousands

polyps Consists of three layers: 1. outer epidermis 2. inner layer of cells lining the gastrovascular cavity, which carries out digestion 3. mesoglea- which lies in between Ring of tentacles that surround the mouth which helps capture food Tentacles contain stinging cells called nematocysts which further aid in capturing food Opens at only one end Calcium carbonate is secreted to build a protective home for coral polyps called a calyx
The structure of a coral polyp

Biology

Best grow in sunny, shallow clear water- helps

Zooxanthellae
http://oceanworld.tamu.edu/students/cora l/coral3.htm

Coral Polyps

coral get sunlight , which is essential in order to carry out photosynthesis Usually dont grow deeper than 40m and prefer salt water Coral polyps have a symbiotic relationship with zooxanthellae Zooxanthellae- single celled algae carry out photosynthesis in order for the coral polyp to receive nutrients Coral gives a protective home to the algae, and in return the algae supplies the coral with oxygen and helps it to remove wastes Zooxanthellae provides coral with organic products such as glucose, glycerol, and amino acids which are essential in producing protein, fats and carbohydrates Cyanobacteria provide soluble nitrates for coral reefs through nitrogen fixation Corals feed upon zooplankton

Biology Cont.
Can reproduce sexually and

asexually Reproductive cells found in the mesentery membranes Internally fertilized eggs are gathered inside polyp and become a planula (tiny larva) Externally fertilized eggs are developed through synchronized spawning; polyps take turn releasing eggs and sperm into the water Spawning depends on water temperature, time of year, tidal and lunar cycles

Coral spawning
http://research.fit.edu/upload/UserFiles/Image/uploade d/VanWoesik1b.JPG

http://www.jcu.edu.au/school/pms/CGC/Spawning.jpg

Cool Facts
One of the oldest ecosystems on Earth Largest living structure on Earth Without coral reefs, parts of Florida would be underwater 4. Have been used to treat cancer, HIV, cardiovascular diseases along with ulcers 5. Provide 375 billion dollars a year in goods and services 6. Their limestone skeletons have been used for human bone grafts 7. Protect coasts from wave erosion 8. 10% of the worlds reefs have been destroyed 9. Over 70% of the coral reefs in the Philippines have been destroyed 10. Home to 25% of all marine life 11. Coral is found in about 100 countries
1. 2. 3.

Importance of Coral Reefs

Home to many organisms and

species of fish Fishery and nursery areaimportant economically Provides many people with income Provide a protective barrier from erosion to coastlines Provide information on changes in water quality (because Coral Reefs are very sensitive) Tourist attractions Control the amount of carbon dioxide in the water
Jewelry made from coral

The Destruction of Coral Reefs

Pollution- poorly managed land development

Fish Trade- over-fishing

* Use of cyanide to capture fish (8090% of exported fish from the Philippines are caught with the use of sodium cyanide) Dynamite Fishing- not only kills fish, but also coral Coral Bleaching- caused by global warmingthe high temperatures kills the zooxanthellae that provide the coral with nutrients Ocean Acidification- the decrease in the oceans surface pH level, increases the amount of CO2 dissolved in the oceans African and Asia dust outbreaks- the dust that blows into the oceans declines the health of the coral reefs

Types of Coral Reefs

Atoll Reef- extends all around a lagoon

without a central island * when an island sinks below the oceans surface Fringing Reef- directly attached to shore * grow up to the edge of the shore Barrier Reef- separated from mainland by lagoon * only grow when there is a change of sea level on the coast adjacent from it * grow where land is sinking faster in the water

Example of a fringing reef

Coral Builds Reefs?

The animal portion of

the reef is called a polyp The polyp absorbs calcium carbonate out of the water The calcium carbonate is used to build the reef

Reefs Corals Build

Corals can build three types of

reefs:
Fringing: grows close to shore Barrier: also grows close to

shore but has a lagoon separating it from the shore Atoll: a ring of coral that surrounds a lagoon, often grows on a submerged mountain or volcano
http://www.nos.noaa.gov/education/kits/ corals/media/coral04a_240.jpg

Coral are Cnidarians

Soft bodied
Carnivorous Stinging tentacles

arranged in a circle around their mouth Body symmetry Specialized tissues

Cnidarians
Usually two life stages: Polyp Medusa
Gastrovascular cavity Food is broken down here but digested intracellularly

Cnidarians
Respiration and waste

removal takes place through body walls Nerve net Some have a hydrostatic skeleton Some move through jet propulsion

Anatomy of Coral
The coral polyps build a

calcium carbonate cup called a corallite to live in Coral has stinging cells called nematocysts

Stinging Cells
Nematocysts help coral

catch food They also help protect the coral When the cell is stimulated, it releases a sharp barb The barb will fire and catch the food and bring it back towards the mouth

Coral and Zooxanthella

Symbiotic relationship

Zooxanthella is an algae that lives in the skin of coral

Coral provides protection Zooxanthella provides food and color!

Asexual Reproduction
To reproduce coral can

reproduce asexually or sexually Asexual reproduction in corals is called budding A baby polyp will begin growing off the adult When it is ready it will detach and live on its own This can not start new colonies, only help the old colony grow bigger

This is a hydra (cousin to coral) with two buds. One bud (on the right) is older than the other.

Coral Reproduction
Sexual reproduction is called

spawning External fertilization It can start new colonies Sperm and eggs are released into the water column The fertilized egg is then called a planula The planula swims until it finds a good place to live

A New Home
Corals now have a choice

of where to live Corals are very sensitive and are rapidly dying People are trying to help by creating artificial reefs

Arguments for Artificial Reefs

It can help build or

rebuild a reef It will increase fish populations by making new habitats

Arguments Against Artificial Reefs

Moveable
Chemical leaking and leaching

into the ocean It does not increase fish populations but rather moves them to one location away from their natural habitat which makes them easier to catch