Exploring Marine Ecosystems by Shania Major

Coral Reef Ecosystem

shaniamajor1 — 2025-08-29 13:31:50 UTC

Sunlit coral reef teeming with vibrant marine life.

Overview

shaniamajor1 — 2025-08-29 13:38:25 UTC

-Reefs are found in warm, shallow tropical waters around the globe,

-Built by reef-building corals, specifically calcium carbonate skeletons.

-Amongst the most biodiverse marine ecosystems to exist.

Primary Producer

shaniamajor1 — 2025-08-29 13:43:26 UTC

Zooxanthellae (symbiotic algae)

-Provides up to 90% of corals energy via photosynthesis

-This algae fuels the reef's food web

Ecological Relationship

shaniamajor1 — 2025-08-29 14:05:48 UTC

🤝Mutualism: Coral + Zooxanthellae

-Corals give the algae shelter + CO2

-The algae gives corals nutrients + energy via photosynthesis

Human/Environmental Impact

shaniamajor1 — 2025-08-29 14:12:46 UTC

🌡️Ocean warming leads to coral bleaching

-Corals expelling algae under heat stress leads to bleaching

-Extended periods of stress results in mortality and habitat loss

- Reduces biodiversity while increasing instability of the ecosystem

References

shaniamajor1 — 2025-08-29 14:16:14 UTC

Encyclopædia Britannica, Inc. (1999). Coral polyp anatomy showing symbiotic zooxanthellae [Diagram]. SlidePlayer. https://slideplayer.com/slide/15807309/

Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority. (n.d.). Healthy, bleached, and dead coral comparison [Photograph]. Healthy Rivers to Reef Partnership. https://healthyriverstoreef.org.au/our-region/coral-bleaching/

Hughes, T. P., Kerry, J. T., Álvarez-Noriega, M., Álvarez-Romero, J. G., Anderson, K. D., Baird, A. H., … & Wilson, S. K. (2017). Global warming and recurrent mass bleaching of corals. Nature, 543(7645), 373–377. https://doi.org/10.1038/nature21707

Muscatine, L., & Porter, J. W. (1977). Reef corals: Mutualistic symbioses adapted to nutrient-poor environments. BioScience, 27(7), 454–460. https://doi.org/10.2307/1297526

Reddit. (2022). Global coral reef distribution map [Map]. Reddit. https://www.reddit.com/r/MapPorn/comments/vf247x/map_of_global_coral_reef_distribution_coral_reefs/

Spalding, M. D., Burke, L., Wood, S. A., Ashpole, J., Hutchison, J., & zu Ermgassen, P. (2017). Mapping the global value and distribution of coral reef tourism. Marine Policy, 82, 104–113. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marpol.2017.05.014

Stable Diffusion Web. (2024). Vibrant coral reef scene [AI-generated image]. StableDiffusionWeb.com