I AM A CORAL REEF

I AM A CORAL REEF

By Susan Mahon

My Special Story

Presentation by Susan Mahon 2008

I AM A CORAL REEF

My foundation is made-up of thousands of tiny coral animals called polyps


Close-up Large Star Coral (Montastrea cavernosa)


I AM A CORAL REEF

I include a great diversity of

animals

eg. boulder corals, sea fans, fishes,

sea eggs, starfish, fire worms

lobsters, sponges and turtles


I AM A CORAL REEF:

REMEMBER

I also include non-living elements like

sunlight, water, sand, and rocks


• SUNLIGHT• WATER• SAND• ROCKS

• Algae• Plankton• turtles• fishes• corals• Sea urchins• Sea slugs, octopus

sunlight

water

Sand & rocks


I AM A CORAL REEF:

I include you and I am affected by you !!!


FOLKESTONE yesterday May Day 2008


and other people …….


I AM A CORAL REEF:

And, I am super sensitive


SUPER SENSITIVE to

PHYSICAL DAMAGE Done by People


SUPER SENSITIVE to ………..

ENVIRONMENTAL CHANGES

• Temperature Rise

• Storms and Hurricanes

• Freshwater flooding

• Erosion and sedimentation


SUPER SENSITIVE to

POLLUTION


I AM A CORAL REEF:

WHY AM I SO SENSITIVE?

Because……


I AM A CORAL REEF

• My foundation is made-up of thousands of tiny coral animals called polyps

• These polyps are sensitive

• They also contain sensitive algae


A CORAL POLYP


ALGAE IN CORALS• Also called zooxanthellae• Give corals their colour (eg. green, blue,

orange, yellow)• Help to feed corals through photosynthesis• Are very sensitive to light and temperature

changes -- and chemicals• Are symbiotic CORALS CANNOT LIVE WITHOUT THEM!!!


Boulder coral

Montastrea annularis


• Fire Coral


ALGAE IN CORALS• Are very sensitive to light and temperature changes -- and

chemicals

eg; global warming and coral bleachingoils – motor and even suntan oillow light when they are smothered by sedimentsfreshwater kills them when the reefs are flooded

• CORALS CANNOT LIVE WITHOUT THEM!!!


Corals are very vulnerable during Reproduction


THE SEX LIFE OF CORALS

Corals are quite peculiar !!!

They can reproduce in two ways


Two Kinds of Reproduction

• Asexual reproduction (budding to clones)

• Sexual reproduction through different life stages that drift in the sea, change and settle


ASEXUAL REPRODUCTION

• No sex• Budding• Different patterns• Different forms

BUT• ALL POLYPS ARE

IDENTICAL CLONES


Elliptecal star coralDichocoenia stokesii


Gorgonia sp.


SEXUAL REPRODUCTION


Sexual Reproduction

• Is good because it creates variety• Adult corals containing a variety of genetic

materials are more likely to surviveBUT

• The different life stages that drift in the sea, change and settle, are vulnerable to being eaten by bigger animals, or being destroyed by pollution, physical damage, or environmental changes.


I AM A CORAL REEF• My foundation is made-up of thousands

of tiny coral animals called polyps• I include a great diversity of animals (eg

corals, fishes, sea eggs, lobsters, turtles)• I include non-living elements like water,

sunlight, sand and rocks • I am affected by you, and others !!! and• I am super sensitive


There exists a delicate balance of natural interconnections and

overlap of systems


EVERYTHING IS INTERCONNECTED


• Land• Reef• Mangrove• Seagrass• Open Ocean


Marine Ecosystems are

Fragile


A FEW GUIDELINES

• No Contact• Buoyancy• Good Finning• Streamline your Gear• Let the animals come

to you• Take only pictures,

leave only bubbles !!!

PHYSICAL DAMAGE

POLLUTION

Adapted from : Our Living Coral Reef – written by the Junior League of Miami, Inc. Living with Nature Committee. Illustrated by Deborah A. Coulombe. (1991) 16pp

Adapted from : Our Living Coral Reef – written by the Junior League of Miami, Inc. Living with Nature Committee. Illustrated by Deborah A. Coulombe. (1991) 16pp


Love

and Respect

the Reef


Please !• Throw no garbage, leave no litter• Touch nothing• Remain Horizontal• Unsure ? Wear a float vest• Uneasy? Practice your skills• Look, enjoy, and leave• Do not anchor on coral• No feeding of fish or turtles please• Don’t brace yourself on coral (eg to take photos)• Divers – adjust buoyancy, know where your fins

are, don’t get too close to corals

Adapted from a handout prepared by the Nature Conservancy Virgin Islands and Eastern Caribbean Program and Association of Reef Keepers PO Box 540 East End Tortola BVI and Cruz Bay USVI


A handout prepared by the Nature Conservancy Virgin Islands and Eastern Caribbean Program and Association of Reef Keepers PO Box 540 East End Tortola BVI and Cruz Bay USVI


THANK YOU

For letting me tell my story

Goodbye for now…. See you on the Reef

I AM A CORAL REEF

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