Coral reefs are underwater structures made of calcium carbonate secreted by coral polyps. There are three main types of coral reefs: fringing reefs along shorelines, barrier reefs separated from shore by lagoons, and atoll reefs which surround a lagoon without an island. Corals are small animals called polyps that build reefs over time by depositing calcium carbonate skeletons. There are over 1,500 species of reef-building corals that form various structures like stars, hats, trees, and patches. Some of the largest and most well-known coral reefs include the Great Barrier Reef, Red Sea Coral Reef, and New Caledonia Barrier Reef
3. What are coral reefs?
•UNDERWATER STRUCTURES MADE FROM CALCIUM CARBONATE
(LIMESTONE) SECRETED BY CORAL POLYPS
•MARINE ECO-SYSTEMS
4. Fringing reef
reef that is directly
attached to a shore or
borders it with an
intervening shallow
channel or lagoon.
Barrier reef
reef separated from a
mainland or island shore
by a deep lagoon; see
Great Barrier Reef
Atoll reef
a more or less circular or
continuous barrier reef
extending all the way
around a lagoon without
a central island; see atoll.
5. CORALS FORMATION
Coral reefs are the largest structures that have been created
by natural activity, as well as the oldest ecosystems.
Corals are small animals (polyps) that have tiny tentacles for
the purpose of feeding from microscopic plankton.
Each polyp, lives behind a calcareous skeleton when they
die. This elaborates coral reefs through time.
Coral skeletons have various geometric forms: spherical,
star shapen and pilar-shaped.
6. Types of Coral Reefs
1,500 species of reef-building corals
Great number of types of Coral Reef
Star Coral Reef
Hat Coral Reef
Tree Coral Reef
Brain Coral Reef
Patchy Coral Reef,
7. Picture of Coral Reef
Star Coral Reef
Hat Coral ReefTree Coral Reef
8. Some Largest Coral Reefs
Great Barrier Reef near Australia
Red Sea Coral Reef near Egypt
New Caledonia Barrier Reef near Caledonia
Mesoamerican Barrier Reef near Mexico
Florida Reef Andros Coral Reef near Andros
Zhongsha Islands in the South China Sea
9. Area: 132,974 mi²
Location: Queensland, Australia
UNESCO World Heritage Site inscription: 1981
Thousands of reefs and hundreds of islands made
of over 600 types of hard and soft coral.
It's home to countless species of colourfull fish,
molluscs and starfish, plus turtles, dolphins and
sharks.
10. Red Sea coral reefs are the northernmost in the Indian
Ocean
Length: 1,180 miles (1,900 km)
Location: Israel, Egypt, and Djibouti
11. Types of Red Sea Coral
Reef
Soft Coral Hard Coral
12. The Ningaloo Reef is largest
fringing reef in the world,
stretching 260 km
Located the western coast
of Australia.
It is a very popular
destination for snorkelers
and scuba divers because of
its proximity to the shore.
A fringing reef
13. Destruction of Coral Reefs
Overdevelopment of coastal areas (land settlement)
Declines in water quality (Pollution)
Destructive Fishing Practices (Cyanide fishing, Overfishing, Blast
fishing)
Careless Tourism