Scie210 Unit 1 Ip

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American Intercontinental University Unit 1 Individual Project SCIE210 June 16, 2013 According to Briney, Amanda (2013), “A coral reef is a submerged structure made up of many different corals, or small marine invertebrates”. Some people think that coral reefs are a plant or an object like a rock. Coral is actually animals that have a hard exoskeleton. Their exoskeleton is what makes coral reefs look strong and rock like. Coral reefs come in many different sizes and shapes. They are located all over the world but are very sensitive to the temperature and chemical composition of the water. Majority of all coral reefs are located in the tropics. The largest coral reef is the Great Barrier Reef, which is located in the Coral Sea near Australia. The length of the Great Barrier Reef is 1,553 miles long. An abiotic component is a non-living organism that is physical rather than biological. A biotic component has life or living organisms. Hermatypie corals are types of abiotic components that help the coral in the Great Barrier Reef. This refers to the very colorful Zooxanthellae algae. Coral can only survive in clear water so that the light can hit the surface of the water. It is normally found in waters that are between 64-91 degrees Fahrenheit. There are two different abiotic factors for coral reefs. These factors include nutrients and light. Coral does not need nutrients; this is why it is located only in clear water. Light is a major factor for coral. Light is the main reason that coral can survive in low nutrient areas. The Zooxanthellae algae are what makes food for the coral. There are two major types of reefs that rely on biotic factors. These reefs are tropical coral reefs and oyster reefs. According to Shields, Brenton (1999-2013), “Oyster reefs are also not uncommon, and are made up of layers upon layers of oysters”.

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