What is a biome?

A biome is a major regional or global abiotic community. Animals and plants typically occupy the specific region. Some examples of a biome are, desserts, coral reefs, polar tundra, and a tropical rainforest. There are many more examples. These are only few of them. How many biomes can you name?

Sources used:
http://www.thefreedictionary.com/biome

What is a Coral Reef?

Coral reefs are the most diverse and beautiful marine habitat. Even though the coral reefs only cover .2 percent of the oceans bottom, it holds 25 percent of marine wildlife. A single coral reef a large underwater formation made from calcium carbonate skeletons of animals. The coral reef is formed when the animal gets stressed out by high temperatures. This is why they look white. The way it is fromed make the coral reef very unique. How many organisms do you see in the picture below? Can you name them?
Sources used:
http://life.bio.sunysb.edu/marinebio/coralreef.html
http://www.cotf.edu/ete/modules/coralreef/CRmain.html
http://www.pbs.org/kqed/oceanadventures/glossary/
http://www.lime-inda-coconut.info/summer/images/coral_reef.jpg

Real World Example

The coral reef below is a coral reef from Florida marine habitats. Dry Tortugas National Park is a lacotion about 60 miles from Key West. How many organisms do you see?

Sources used:

http://www.floridamarine.org/features/category_main.asp?id=1340

http://www.naturephoto-cz.com/photos/sevcik/coral-reef--coral-reef.jpg

What should you find here?

If you went to visit a coral reef. You would see many organisms. Some organisms you would see are tropical or reeffish, corals, zooxanthellae, cyanobacteria, zooplankton, sponges, marine worms, seaweed, coralline algae. A lot of these organisms are not visible to our eyes. All the fish in the coral reefs are beautiful, there names are exotic too! Some are parrotfish, angelfish, damselfish, Pomacanthus paru, Clinidae, and butterfly fish. These are only a few examples of the many organisms. Have you ever been scuba diving? If so, what organisms have you seen?



Sources used:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coral_reef
www.youtube.com

Coralline Algae

Coralline algae are red algae. They belong to the Family Corallinaceae. Coralline algae is typically pink, but can be a shade of red. They can also be purple, yellow, blue, white, or gray-green. Coralline algae is very important for the ecology of the coral reef. Many organisms, such as sea urchins, parrot fish, limpets, and chitons molluscs feed on the coralline algae. They had addapted very well in the coral reef. Even though being eaten is not a great perk in life, they help the hole enviroment survive. What does the coralline algae look like to you?

Sources used:

http://www.answers.com/topic/coralline-algae

Zooxanthellae

The zooxanthellae are single celled algae that live in the transperant tissue of many organisms that live in a coral reef. Such as giant clams and jellyfish. Zooxanthellae are producers. They use photosynthesis to survive. This is very interesting because they are water plants. The orange spot in the clear animal is the zooxanthellae. Does it look like a jelly like substance or a solid to you? Why or why not?

Sources used:

http://www.reefpix.com.au/guidezooxanthellae.html
http://www.seaslugforum.net/factsheet.cfm?base=zoox1

Dugongs

Dugongs are animals that live in shallow waters. They live in at least 37 countries and territories around the world. They are big marine mammals and was almost hunted to extinction in the 18th century. The dugong is a strict herbivore, meaning they only eat plants. It has a snout like a pig and a tail like a dolphin. However the snout goes downwards like a metal detector but in this case the dugong's nose is a food detector. The dugong is not a well known animal, which may be one of the reasons that it is endangered. Have you ever heard of the dugong? If, so where and where? Did you no that the dugong is endangered?

Sources used:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dugong

Oysters

Oysters live in coral reefs.Many of us have heard of the oyster, but dont know actual facts about it. Sure it looks gooey and weird and it is something to it. But the oyster itself is very interesting. The oyster keeps its shell closed using adductor muscled. I always thought it was just normal and they were born like that. But now I know that even the oyster is alive, it has muscles and organs just like us. The oyster filters the water in te coral reef. A very important job in all environments. They have addapted to live in a coral reef because as they filter the water, the planktons are eaten by the oyster. They litereaaly earn a living! There are many different types of oysters, such as a True oyster, Pearl oyster, and pilgrim oyster. Have you ever tried an oyster? Do you own pearl earrings? What do you think of when you hear the word "oyster"?

Sources used:
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/44/Ostrea_edulis_p1040847.jpg
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oysters

Locations of Coral Reefs Around The World

These are many of the geographical regions where coral reefs are located. Most of these regions are located off the coast of islands. However, some of them are located in the middle of the ocean. I believe they are located where they are because they need to be located where organisms can easily find them. Also, this spot is very convenient for the animals to work. The biggest coral reef system right now is the Great Barrier Reef. The second biggest is the Belize Barrier reef. Have you ever visited a coral reef? If not, do you want to?

Sources used:
http://wiki.answers.com/Q/Where_are_coral_reefs_located
My brain!