CORAL REEF

BIOTIC FACTORS

• Sharks
• Coral
• 1,500 species of fish & 4,500 species of mollusks
• Algae, Anemone, Sea Lillies, & Sea Lillies
• Whales, Lobsters, Crabs, Sea Turles & Sea Urchins

ABIOTIC FACTORS

• Temperature- Coral Reefs thrive in water temperatures of 77-84 degrees F.
• Hermatypic corals live in temperatures of 64-91 degrees F.
• Nutrients- corals survive in clear water with sediements & where light can breach the surface.
• Animals get their nutrients by eating the coral, and by eating animals that have eaten the coral.

ABIOTIC FACTORS

• Light- coral survives because of zooxanthellae algae.
• This algae produces food for the coral; it needs light to do so.
• Without light, this ecosystem cannon survive.
• Salinity- corals live in salty water 27-40 parts per thousand (ppt) but preffering 36 ppt.
• Depth- corals are usually found at a depht of 60 meters (197 feet).

ABIOTIC FACTORS

• Wave Motions- water movements help take away waste & bring food.
• Location- large reefs~ Caribbean Sea, western Indian Ocean, South Pacific.
• Also, there are non-tropical coral reefs zones in the Red Sea and Australia's GBF is a major one.

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