The biodiversity of coral reefs, key to the survival of ecosystems
06/ JUL/ 2019
Some people assume that the coral reef is part of the oceanic biome and, although they are found in the ocean, they are separate entities. A coral reef biome is found in a shallow area of clear water, in the ocean, the temperature in this biome is normally 70 to 85 degrees Fahrenheit.
Characteristics of coral reefs. Warm water temperatures are required for coral reef bioma to exist, for this reason they are in shallow water. In the deepest places of water, the sun can not shine due to the depth of it, with the shallow water the sun reaches to the bottom of it and heats the area upwards.
The structure of a coral reef is intriguing, you can find colonies of small animals living in these areas, however, when they die they leave a hard structure made of limestone, which leaves an interesting story of the environment in which these animals have I've been living.
The characteristics of a coral reef will depend on whether it is a hard or soft coral reef, the hard coral reef leaves limestone skeletons, a soft coral reef will leave no traces.
There are three different types of coral reefs identified, peripheral reefs are found along the coast in shallow waters of the continental shelf. Barrier reefs are farther out in the water, they actually create a barrier between coastal waters and the ocean.
The last one is the coral atolls or corral rings, they are actually remains of volcanoes under water.
If you are lucky enough to be near a coral reef during a spawning event, it will be a magical experience. There are a few days a year when all the coral will be synchronized for a limited period of time. During spawning, the surface of the water can be covered due to the event, and in many areas, such as Australia, it is customary for people to dive into the spawning grounds for fun. They say it feels like snowing, but the other way around.
Flora and fauna of coral reefs: You can not deny a complex habitat existing in the coral reef biome, it also offers a structure that provides an ideal hiding place for many creatures like sponges, variety of fish species, jellyfish, crustaceans like snails, turtles and mollusks.
Many species of birds live on coral reefs because they can easily access different types of living beings to feed themselves. These birds submerge in the water, get the food and go out again. Other food sources simply float on the surface and birds can rest in the water while consuming them.
One of the essential living elements of a coral reef are polyps. They are carnivores, but very small, you should look very closely to realize that each one has a very small mouth and tentacles. The fact that, in general, they are found in clear water is important, if the water suffers from too much pollution it can prevent the polyps from being able to survive, and without them, the coral reefs could not thrive.
The center of all plant life in the coral reef are the algae. The photosynthetic activity that these organisms produce is incredible. The algae also provide unique colors to any coral reef. Sometimes you will see the coral reef all white, this means that there are serious pollutants in the water.
Do not forget to visit the coral reef in your visit to Playa del Carmen !!