In the Caribbean

What are Coral Reefs? Coral Reef is a coastal and oceanic ecosystem renowned for its beautiful life forms and for providing one of the most biologically diverse habitats on Earth. A reef is a ridge or outcrop of rock in the sea that comes close to the surface. A coral reef is a reef that has been built largely or entirely by corals, tiny animals that live together in colonies.

TYPES OF CORAL REEFS

Atoll- a roughly circular (annular) oceanic reef system

surrounding a central lagoon Fringing Reef - a reef system that grows fairly close to (or directly from) the shore, with an entirely shallow lagoon or none at all Barrier Reef - a reef system that parallel the shore and is separated from it by a wide lagoon that contains at least some deep portions Patch reef this type is an isolated, comparatively small

reef outcrop, usually within a lagoon or embayment, often circular and surrounded by sand or seagrass. Patch reefs are common

The Types of Coral Reefs Found in the Caribbean

Formation Of Major Reef Types

Conditions Needed for the formation of Coral Reefs

Ample Sunlight
Clear, clean water

Temperatures between 23 degrees Celsius and 29

degrees Celsius Water rich in Algae and therefore rich in nutrients

How are Coral Reefs formed?

Fringing reefs are closest to shore, sometimes touching the shore. They follow a shore from beach to beach, creating a chain of reefs. Fringing reefs are found around new and developing islands,

compared to the age of the world. These reefs are formed from decaying sea life and polyps. Young fringing reefs that are still growing are called apron reefs.

Moora Fringing Reef of the Polynesian island of Moora.

Barrier Reefs
A barrier reef forms as the oceanic island begins to sink into Earth's

crust due to the absence of volcanic island building forces, the added weight of the coral reef, and erosion at the surface of the island. As the island sinks, the coral reef continues to grow upward. This upward growth creates a lagoon of water between the top of the reef (that started as a fringing reef) and the sinking crustal island. The lagoon fills in with eroded material from both the reef and the island and is a haven for marine forms that require protection from waves and storms. This barrier reef is generally not a complete circle as it may be broken, here and there, by storms.

Coral Atoll
An atoll forms when the oceanic island sinks below the surface of the ocean but the coral reef continues to grow upward. The atoll is usually circular in

shape but a broken circle (due to the history of storms). Eroded reef material may pile up on parts of the reef, creating an area above sea level, an island called a 'cay.' Cays may become stabilized enough (often through plants) to provide a permanent island for buildings. Cays may also be unstable and move across the reef or disappear. Aerial View of Fiji Atoll

Locations of Coral Reefs

Although corals exist both in temperate and tropical waters, shallow-

water reefs form only in a zone extending from 30 N to 30 S of the equator. The optimum temperature for most coral reefs is 2627 C, and few reefs exist in waters below 18 C. Deep-water coral can exist at greater depths and colder temperatures at much higher latitudes, as far north as Norway. Although deep water corals can form reefs, very little is known about them. Some examples of coral reefs around the world are Great Barrier Reef, Mesoamerican Barrier Reef System, New Caledonia Barrier Reef, Andros, Bahamas, The Red Sea, Pulley Ridge, various reefs in the Maldives and The Raja Ampat Islands.

Biodiversity of Coral Reefs

Biodiversity is the degree of variation of life forms within a given species, ecosystem, biome, or an entire planet. Biodiversity is an essential component of maintaining healthy coral reefs. Healthy reef ecosystems with high biodiversity (a full complement of species and communities) are more likely to survive mass bleaching and other global stresses than less diverse systems. When multiple species occupy similar niches on the reef, disease, predation or other pressures affecting a single species are balanced by the presence of unaffected species that fill the ecological gap. But when biodiversity is low, those few species can be depleted by a single source of stress.

Threats to Coral Reefs

There are many threats to coral reefs, with some having a much greater and longer lasting impact than others. Although any activity that causes degradation is to be avoided, stakeholders need to be

aware of certain key threats in order to become part of the solution: Destructive fishing and overfishing: Cyanide use, Dynamite fishing and Removal of BOFFF ( big old fat fertile female) and Spear fishing. Coastal development: Habitat destruction, Deforestation/erosion and Dredging and filling. Pollution: Agricultural run-off, Industrial waste and Urban waste. Unsustainable tourism activities: Anchoring, Diver damage and Marina construction. Global climate change: Bleaching, Disease, Tropical storms and Acidification.

Coral Reef Protection

You can help protect coral reefs in many different ways.

If you visit a coral reef, be sure not to sit on, stand on, or even touch live coral. Divers or snorkelers should rest by floating or standing on the sandy bottom. They should be very careful not to grab on to any coral formations.
Boaters should take care when navigating around the coral reefs. Anchors shouldn't be dropped directly on the reef, but on a near-by sandy area.

Take photos of coral reefs rather than collecting dead or living coral, which damages the reef and is prohibited in many areas.
If you set up a marine aquarium at home, purchase fish that have either been aquarium raised rather than collected from the wild or collected from a Marine Aquarium Council (MAC) certified retailer.

Support sustainable fisheries by only eating seafood certified by the Marine Stewardship Council.
To help reduce carbon dioxide emissions into the Earth's atmosphere and, eventually, the oceans, reduce your energy use whenever you can.

Importance of Coral Reefs to the Caribbean

Conclusion
The most important tools for coral reef conservation are

education and the establishment of protected areas.