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What is a coral reef?
Coral reef areas are found in tropic and subtropic areas near the equator and provide a home for almost 25% of the world's aquatic species. They contain many corals and other objects that have changed into limestone.This particular biome needs a warm climate and plenty of sunlight to maintain the habitat through the process of photosynthesis. Plant/Autotrophs such as zooxanthellae and algae are able to produce their own food known as glucose in order to stay alive rather than consume other organisms.
Structure of a Coral Reef
The formation of a coral reef is the result of the very slow process of small sea creatures called coral polyps that secrete calcium carbonate or otherwise known as limestone. Eventually when enough limestone is produced, the marine area takes one of three main properties that are classified to be fringing, barrier or atoll.
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The Three Main types of Coral Reefs
Atoll: A circular formation of coral the usually creates an island.
Fringing: The most common type of coral reef that go outwards towards the see and form a layer along the sides of islands of shorelines. Barrier: When the sea level rises fringing reefs become barrier reefs. Glossary
Photosynthesis: The process in which green plants are able to convert sunlight and carbon dioxide into glucose and oxygen through the use of sunlight and chlorophyll Autotroph: An organism that is able create its own food through inorganic substances such as carbon dioxide and sunlight Glucose: The simple sugar produced in the process photosynthesis Secrete: To discharge and release a substance |