Coral Reef Questions

1. What are reefs built from?

2. How long have the reefs been around on earth?

3. Where did the corals evolve?

4. How did the reefs of the Caribbean get cut off from the rest of the reefs in the world?

5. Explain how Australia ended up with the Great Barrier Reef.

6. What has the survival of corals during the sea level changes demonstrated?

7. Which state in the continental US has any extensive coral reefs?

8. Where is the best reef devlopment located here?

9. How long have they been growing presently?

10. How fast do reefs grow?

11. What other types of living reefs are found off this state?

12. How do polyps form limestone?

13 What is the largest coral reef and how long is it?

14. What are zooxanthellae?

15. How do the algae benifit from the relationship with corals?

16. List some uses of reefs.

17. What 4 environmental characteristics are required for reef development?

18. Name and describe 3 types of reefs.

19. What is the saying for boaters near a reef?

The animal

1. What two ways can corals reproduce?

2. What are the two classes of reef coral?

3. What is fire coral?

4. What organisms are responsible for building the reef?

5. What plants secrete limestone?

6. What role do they play in reef building?

7.. To what level will most reefs grow?

8. What are the 5 zones of the reef? Describe each.

9. How does the position of the reef on the continental shelf affect its composition?

10. Describe a juvenile reef.

11. Describe a mature reef.

12. Describe a senile reef.

13. Why can reefs survive in barren areas of the sea?

14. What are some needs of a coral reef?

15. . What converts N to nitrates?

16. . How much of the CO2 is removed from a reef community per day is used directly by the reef algae??

17. What is the building role of coralline algae on the reef?

18. Apart from the corals, which is another major plant providing a food supply on the reef?

19. How much calcium carbonate is produced per square meter, and what organsims are responsible for its production?

20. What organisms break down the reef and how?