GEOL 3070 Chapter Notes - Chapter 14.6: Red Algae, Surface Runoff, Prokaryotic Small Ribosomal Subunit
25 Apr 2017
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Coral reefs fringe one-sixth of the world"s coastlines and provide habitat for tens of thousands of fish and other organisms. Water temperature must not go below 18 c and the optimal temperature is 23 to 25 c. Growth is restricted to tropical waters between 30 n and 30 s and away from cold- water currents. Polyps: individual coral animals (sea anemones and corals) Zooxanthellae: symbiotic microscopic organisms (dinoflagellates) found in corals and other marine organisms. Polyps and zooxanthellae = symbiotic relationship (coral provides algal cells with a protected environment, carbon dioxide, and nitrogen and phosphorous nutrients, and the algal cells photosynthesize, returning oxygen and removing waste). Symbiosis: close ecological relationship between organisms of two different species. Corals require a firm base --> cement their skeletons. Fringing reefs and barrier reefs (classic reef types) are attached to existing islands or landmasses. Reef flat: portion of a coral reef landward of the reef crest and seaward of the lagoon.
