Albert Zheng

Keystone College

IntroductionKelps can grow over 40m in some places.

Resembles submarine forests. Example: Coast of California

Coral Reefs are diverse in colors.Resembles gardens

Example: Coast of Egypt

GeographyMarine environment and its

inhabitants vary with latitude.In temperate to subpolor

regions: Enormous amount of kelp

growthThe closer you go towards the

equator region, the kelp will slowly be replace by coral reefs. Corals are confined to low

latitudes, 30°N and 30°S.

Coral Reef Distribution

Kelp Forest Distribution

Kelps grow along rocky shores in regions with max H2O temperature is < 20°C

Corals are absent from shores and grow in H20 temperature averaging about 23°C to 25°C along the equator

StructureIn 1842, Charles Darwin was the 1st to place

coral reefs into 3 categoriesFringing reefs – are along the shores of the

continent or islandBarrier reefs – stretches for nearly 2000km off

the coastCoral Atolls – consist of coral that have built up

from a submerged oceanic island. AtollsBarrier reefsFringing reefs

StructureKelp forests, mainly the larger kelps, have

structural features similar to terrestrial forests. On the surface of the water is canopy, which

can be 25m above seafloor. Stems or stipes of kelps extend from canopy to the

bottom and the anchoring to the ground is called holdfast.

Physical ConditionLight

Both kelp and reef building corals grow only to the surface water where there is enough light to support photosynthesis.

Light penetration can be read from a few meters to almost 100m, sufficient enough to support the kelp and coral Varies with local conditions.

TemperatureKelps are limited to temperate shores.Corals are restricted to warm waters averaging

23°C to 25°C

Water MovementCoral reefs and kelp beds are continuously

being washed by ocean currents that will deliver oxygen and nutrients and remove waste product.However extreme strong currents and waves

can detach entire kelp forests and flatten coral reefs.

Chemical ConditionsSalinity

Coral reefs grow only in stable salinity H2OKelp beds appear to be more tolerant in fresh

H2O runoffs and will grow well along temperate shores.

OxygenCoral reefs and kelp beds occur where water is

well oxygenated.

BiologyCoral reefs face intense biological

disturbancesOutbreaks of predatory crown-of-thorn sea

star, will eat corals which has devastated large area of coral reefs in the Indo-Pacific region.

The center of diversity for reef building corals is in the western pacific and eastern Indian Ocean600 coral species and over

2000 species of fishes can be found

BiologyIn a Caribbean coral reef community,

population of sea urchin, Diadema antillarum will eat both algae and corals.But these urchins benefit the corals by

reducing algal population that will compete for space with the young corals