The Coral Reef Ecosystem & Its Keystone Species by Sarina Babbitt https://padlet.com/sarinababbitt/7t4u30k18msg This is my week 09G Mastery Assignment for ICAN 7. I hope you learn something new about Coral Reefs today! en-us 2020-03-31 21:06:39 UTC 2020-04-01 00:40:45 UTC hello@padlet.com https://longcayebelize.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/CORAL6-1-800x490.jpeg Coral Reefs sarinababbitt https://padlet.com/sarinababbitt/7t4u30k18msg/wish/485435854 The Coral Reef is a Marine Ecosystem home to billions of diverse plant and animal species. Here is a brief introduction to this beautiful biome below.

Video Source: YouTube, National Geographic]]> 2020-03-31 21:13:24 UTC https://padlet.com/sarinababbitt/7t4u30k18msg/wish/485435854 Keystone Species: The Whitetip Reef Shark sarinababbitt https://padlet.com/sarinababbitt/7t4u30k18msg/wish/485466700 This Reef Shark is a prime example of a keystone species in this ecosystem. 
Size: 4-5 feet (Adult)
Weight: Avg of 22 lbs
Species: Reiquiem Shark
Status: Near Threatened
Food: reef fish such as parrotfish, and octopuses and crustaceans.

]]> 2020-03-31 21:39:34 UTC https://padlet.com/sarinababbitt/7t4u30k18msg/wish/485466700 Inhabitants sarinababbitt https://padlet.com/sarinababbitt/7t4u30k18msg/wish/485538655 -Coral
-Fish
-Seahorses
-Sea Sponge
-Mollusks
-Crab
-Lobster
-Clam
-Sea Turtle
-Urchins
-Sting Rays
-Anemone
-Octopuses
-Reef Sharks]]> 2020-03-31 22:59:35 UTC https://padlet.com/sarinababbitt/7t4u30k18msg/wish/485538655 sarinababbitt https://padlet.com/sarinababbitt/7t4u30k18msg/wish/485545672 2020-03-31 23:09:10 UTC https://padlet.com/sarinababbitt/7t4u30k18msg/wish/485545672 Biome Specifics sarinababbitt https://padlet.com/sarinababbitt/7t4u30k18msg/wish/485550733 Average Temperatures:
70-80 degrees Fahrenheit

Water location: Shallow

Salinity: 32-40 PSU (practical Salinity Units)




]]> 2020-03-31 23:15:54 UTC https://padlet.com/sarinababbitt/7t4u30k18msg/wish/485550733 How to Save this Ecosystem sarinababbitt https://padlet.com/sarinababbitt/7t4u30k18msg/wish/485562731   Currently, coral reefs around the world are dying. This ecosystem is highly fragile. The coral reefs of the world are dying because of pollution, coral mining, blast fishing, over-fishing and digging canals. 

The NOAA Coral Reef Conservation Program is here to help. This program actively participates in the following:
- Increased resilience to climate change
- Reducing land-based pollution
- Improving fishery sustainability
- Restoration of viable coral populations

With billions of members worldwide, the NOAA is making good progress to slow the extinction of coral reefs, and possibly even prevent it.

Once coral population is back to normal, new-coming fish will be sure to reproduce quickly. That's where the Whitetip Reef Shark comes into play. A few sharks will be raised in captivity and simulated to know what to du in the wild. When the coral reef inhabitants begin to overpopulate, the human raised sharks will be released into the wild to help keep the numbers normal.

Sources used:]]> 2020-03-31 23:32:46 UTC https://padlet.com/sarinababbitt/7t4u30k18msg/wish/485562731 sarinababbitt https://padlet.com/sarinababbitt/7t4u30k18msg/wish/485586052 Image Source: ProjectAware.com]]> 2020-04-01 00:06:24 UTC https://padlet.com/sarinababbitt/7t4u30k18msg/wish/485586052 Reef Shark Population Decline sarinababbitt https://padlet.com/sarinababbitt/7t4u30k18msg/wish/485586378 Source: science.direct.com]]> 2020-04-01 00:06:51 UTC https://padlet.com/sarinababbitt/7t4u30k18msg/wish/485586378