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Coral reef ecosystem (Conditions (Sea surface Temperature should not be…
Coral reef ecosystem
Conditions
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The amount of sunlight received
The availability of clear saline water between 10 m and 60m allows sunlight to penetrate to promote algae photosynthesis
The level of salinity and oxygen content
The average seater salinity is about 34-37 parts per thousand
Moderate water motion ensures that corals can receive enough oxygen
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Found slightly below sea level on seabed
Coral polyps
These tiny animals produce Caco3 as the protective layer of their soft and delicate bodies
When the coral polyps grow and die, new polyps grow on top of them. As a result, Caco3 skeletons accumulate as limestone and form giant coral reefs
Found between the tropic of cancer in the northern hemisphere and the tropic of Capricorn in the southern hemisphere.
The largest area and the highest biodiversity of coral reefs is located in the regions of southeast Asia.
They help to maintain the natural ecosystem by supporting more than 25% of the earth's marine fish species to breed and grow
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They can absorb wave energy that help protect the adjacent land mass from erosion. However, they have a slow recovery rate when thy are damaged. Therefore, the coasts are prone to erosion when coral reefs are damaged