Coral Reef Project

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oral Reef Projec

description

Coral Reef Project. Background Info. Importance/ Contributions? Shoreline Protection Erosion Storm Damage Food Sources To coastal communities Opportunities Recreational Economical. Background. How do Coral Reefs benefit everyone? Great BIODIVERSITY Can provide medical options - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

Transcript of Coral Reef Project

Page 1: Coral Reef Project

Coral Reef Project

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Background Info.

• Importance/ Contributions?– Shoreline Protection• Erosion• Storm Damage

– Food Sources• To coastal communities

– Opportunities• Recreational• Economical

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Background

• How do Coral Reefs benefit everyone?– Great BIODIVERSITY• Can provide medical options • Many invertebrates produce potent chemicals

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Background

• Possibilities for Chemical Production– Sessile• Need protection from predators

– Many are filter feeders• Fight off parasites and pathogen

So…..if they produce these chemicals that fight off foreign agents….can they work for us??

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Background cont.

• Threatened by Human Activities– Examples:

• Result– Symbiotic algae (Zooxanthelle) are expelled• CORAL BLEACHING

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Background

• What’s been done?

– Coral Reef Task Force (CRTF)• Conservation Movement

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First Task

• Work in Groups

• Coral Reef Tutorials– www.oceanservice.noaa.gov/education/kits/corals

– Summarize/ Extract Main Idea from each Topic/ Tutorial

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Assignment

• Investigate possible explanations for Zooxanthelle expulsion by corals

• Prepare a written report outlining at least one hypothesis that explains this behavior.

• Be sure to explain:– Symbiotic relationship b/w corals and zooxanthelle– How corals obtain zooxanthelle– How environmental stress may alter their symbiosis– How this personally affects us

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Part 2

• Prepare a “Public Service Announcement”– Benefits of– Danger to them– Ways to help– How does this personally affect us?