OCEA 2000X Lecture Notes - Lecture 13: Coralline Algae, Zooxanthellae, Marine Ecosystem
31 Aug 2016
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Document Summary
Coral reefs dominate the shallow inshore waters of the tropics, but occupy only a small portion of the surface area of the globe: coral reefs. This huge area is actually only 0. 17% of the total surface area of the globe. About 1/6 of the global coastline is fringed by reefs. Coral reefs harbour the greatest diversity of higher taxa per unit area of any marine ecosystem. Reefs have an estimated 91 000 species (4-5% of all marine species). Large rocky substrate composed of calcium carbonate (caco3) of biogenic origin. Structure is composed mainly of cemented together shells and skeletons of calcifying organisms, which are eventually converted to limestone. Caco3 produced mainly by corals, but also by a variety of other calcifying organisms such calcareous and coralline algae, various molluscs and hydrocorals. Corals belong to the phylum cnidaria, which includes jellyfish and sea anemones too. Cnidarians are carnivores that capture prey with stinging nematocysts.
