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Why are coral reefs located where they are?
LOCATION: Coral reefs are generally found in clear, tropical oceans. Coral reefs form in waters from the surface to about 150 feet (45 meters) deep because they need sunlight to survive. Reefs usually develop in areas that have a lot of wave action because the waves bring in food, nutrients and oxygen to the reef.
Where are most coral reefs located and why?
The Pacific Ocean has the most coral species. Because of these environmental restrictions, reefs generally are confined to tropical and semitropical waters.
Where do you find corals and why?
Corals are found across the world’s ocean, in both shallow and deep water, but reef-building corals are only found in shallow tropical and subtropical waters. This is because the algae found in their tissues need light for photosynthesis and they prefer water temperatures between 70-85°F (22-29°C).
Why are coral reefs found in tropical waters?
Because of strict environmental restrictions, coral reefs generally are confined to tropical and semi-tropical waters. This is because most reef-building corals contain photosynthetic algae, called zooxanthellae, which live in their tissues. The corals and algae have a unique relationship.
What are the 3 types of coral?
The three main types of coral reefs are fringing, barrier, and atoll.
What is the largest coral reef in the world?
The Great Barrier Reef
Satellite photograph of the Great Barrier Reef situated off the northeastern coast of Australia. Stretching for 1,429 miles over an area of approximately 133,000 square miles , the Great Barrier Reef is the largest coral reef system in the world.
Which country has the most coral reefs?
As of 2011, 17 percent of the world’s total coral reefs were situated in Australia, followed by Indonesia with 16 percent….Countries with the largest percentage of coral reef area as of 2011.
| Country | Percentage of coral reef area |
|---|---|
| – | – |
Do corals produce oxygen?
Most corals, like other cnidarians, contain a symbiotic algae called zooxanthellae, within their gastrodermal cells. In return, the algae produce oxygen and help the coral to remove wastes.
What percent of coral reefs are left?
Over the next 20 years, scientists estimate about 70 to 90% of all coral reefs will disappear primarily as a result of warming ocean waters, ocean acidity, and pollution. Expand that out to 2100 and it’s “looking quite grim,” says Renee Setter, a marine scientist at the University of Hawaii in Manoa.
Where are coral reefs found in the world?
Where are Coral Reefs Found? Corals can be found throughout the world’s oceans, in both shallow and deep water. However, the reef-building corals that rely on a symbiotic relationship with algae need shallow, clear water allowing light penetration for photosynthesis.
How are the locations of coral reefs determined?
Because the global distribution of coral reefs is largely determined by the ecological requirements of the reef-building corals themselves. The coral animals that build tropical reefs require sunlight found in clear, shallow ocean waters.
Why do coral reefs live in shallow water?
Because photosynthesis requires sunlight, most reef-building corals live in clear, shallow waters that are penetrated by sunlight. The algae also give a coral its color; coral polyps are actually transparent, so the color of the algae inside the polyps show through.
Why are there so many coral reefs in India?
Common clownfish. Coral reefs in India are one of the most ancient and dynamic ecosystems of India. The coral reefs not only provide a sanctuary to a myriad of marine life but also play a key role in protecting the coastline from erosion. India has about 7517 km of coastline including islands but mainland coast is 5423 km.