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.