Coral Reefs

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Coral Reefs

• Leighann Greene

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Coral Reefs

• What are coral reefs
• Types of reefs
• Importance of reefs
• Threats to reefs
• Ten simple things

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What are coral reefs?

• Coral is made up of hundreds of thousands of
  individual POLYPS.
• Mouth surrounded by tentacles
• Secretes calcium carbonate

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Stinging sponge
Sea Fan
The beauty down below!
Sea star
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Coral Reefs

• What are coral reefs
• Types of reefs
• Importance of reefs
• Threats to reefs
• Ten simple things

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Three types of reefs
Fringing Reef
Atoll Reef
Barrier Reef
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Coral reefs

• What are coral reefs
• Types of reefs
• Importance of reefs
• Threats to reefs
• Ten simple things

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Why are coral reefs so important?

• Tourism
• Costal protection
• Medical advances
• Intrinsic value
• Fisheries

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www.pcrf.org/reeffacts.html
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Coral reefs

• What are coral reefs
• Types of reefs
• Importance of reefs
• Threats to reefs
• Ten simple things

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Threats to the coral reefs

• Destructive fishing practices
• Over fishing
• Careless tourism
• Pollution
• Sedimentation
• Coral mining

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Continue

• Coral bleaching
• Diseases biological infestations
• Eutrophication
• Exotic species
• Military/nuclear testing
• Climate change

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www.pcrf.org/reefsincrisis.html
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Coral bleaching
Healthy coral
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Coral reefs

• What are coral reefs
• Types of reefs
• Importance of reefs
• Threats to reefs
• Ten simple things

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Ten Simple Things To Do!

• Conserve water
• Plant a tree
• Beach clean-up
• Safe diving and snorkeling
• Ecological or organic fertilizers

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Continue

• Government representatives
• Support and volunteer
• Learn about coral reef
• Educate others
• Build Wastewater Gardens

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Second graders at The Willows Community School,
May 2004
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Beautiful Fish
Nemo Dad
Parrot Fish
Angel Fish
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Questions