benthic communities
Post on 30-Dec-2015
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Benthic Communities. living along the bottom of the ocean. Benthic Communities. Coral Reefs. Coral Reefs. Corals Are animals (Cnidarians) Small (ant-sized) polyps live in large colonies Hermatypic corals secret a calcium carbonate skeleton…the reef. Coral Reefs. Zooxanthellae - PowerPoint PPT Presentation
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Benthic Communities
living along the
bottom of the ocean
Benthic Communities
• Coral Reefs
Coral Reefs
• Corals– Are animals (Cnidarians)– Small (ant-sized) polyps live in large colonies– Hermatypic corals secret a calcium carbonate
skeleton…the reef
Coral Reefs
• Zooxanthellae– Dinoflagellate that lives within the coral polyp– A mutualism– Algae provide food, speeds up calcium
carbonate deposition & get nutrients in return
Coral Reefs
• Hermatypic Coral’s ideal habitat is 5-10 m (16-33 ft) depth & temperatures warmer than 18-21oC (64-70oF)
Fig. 14-12, p. 294
Coral Reefs
• Reefs support a large diversity of other organisms– Home to 25% of the world’s marine species
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