Page 112 - Coral Reef Teachers Guide

Why are coral reefs important? Where is the coral reef?

The coral reef is home to more kinds of life that any other ecosystem on Earth. The North America’s living coral barrier reef lies approximately six miles out to sea off the
coral reefs of Florida include more than 500 species of fishes, more than 60 species Florida Keys in water from 15 to 30 feet deep. The reef tract starts near Miami and
of hard corals, greater than 40 species of soft corals, and two species of hydrocorals extends southwest to the Dry Tortugas, about 67 miles west of Key West. Patch reefs
commonly referred to as “fire coral.” This represents 80% of all continue up through the Palm Beaches.
corals found in the tropical Western Atlantic.
Florida Keys
National

Marine
Sanctuary

What is the coral reef ecosystem?

The coral reef ecosystem is a complex interdependent system of habitats that includes
mangrove forests, sea grass meadows, and the coral reef. Each of these systems plays
Florida’s coral reefs also attract millions of tourist every year and are the primary an important role in the health of our near-shore waters and our coral reef.
source of dollars in the Florida Keys—billions of dollars are added to the economies
of South Florida as a result of the tourism trade. Mangroves provide important breeding grounds for an abundance of reef creatures.
In fact, they are sometimes called, “ocean nurseries,” due to the amount of ocean
Coral reefs also act as a barrier to high waves and storm surges generated by creatures that are born there, and stay there while
tropical weather systems, they provide food to over 500 million people worldwide, feeding and growing before going to
they provide recreational opportunities like snorkeling and scuba diving, and they the ocean. Mangroves also filter
provide us with one of the most beautiful wilderness places on Earth. pollutants from the land; they trap
Are coral reefs threatened? sediments from the shore, and mangroves
form a fence that protects shores
Florida’s reefs are typically “spur and groove” formations—a series of coral ridges from storm damage.
separated by sand channels found in nutrient-free, warm, and clear shallow waters.
Nutrient free waters reefs need to prevent alga blooms which could smother the Seagrasses are flowering marine
corals; temperatures between 64 and 84 degrees; and clear waters that allow plants that provide protection
sunlight to penetrate enabling the algae to conduct photosynthesis. and food for many forms of
marine life, especially those in seagrasses
Coral reef ecosystems provide habitat for 25% of all marine species during some their younger stage. Seagrass
stage of their life cycle and yet occupy only 1% of the world ocean. meadows are important habitat for

The greatest threats to Florida’s coral reefs are water quality decline due to storm conch, manatees, sea turtles, and
water runoff and agricultural runoff from the Everglades via Florida Bay and other protected species.
inadequate sewage treatment in some locations. Warming sea temperatures and These interdependent, connected systems together form the Coral Reef Ecosystem-
ocean acidification due to climate change are also major threats. Stronger storms with more kinds of plants and animals than any other place on the Earth. Coral Reefs
and hurricanes, also linked to climate change, are capable of causing wide-spread have been described as “Rainforests of the Sea” as a result of the large amount of life
destruction to the reefs of the Florida Keys. found there.