RAMA DEVI WOMENS’ UNIVERSITY

BHUBANESWAR, ODISHA

DEPARTMENT OF ZOOLOGY
2023-2024

Topic - Coral Reefs

Guided By:
Sri Prakash Chandra Paricha

Prepared By:
Smaranika Pani

UG 1st Year , 2nd Semester

University Roll No. : BS(B)-23-147

Examination Roll No. : 59R00230

 CONTENTS

Sl No. TOPIC
01 Introduction
02 Formation Of Coral Reefs
03 Types Of Coral Reefs
04 What Are Corals ?
05 Zooxanthellae
06 Structure Of Coral Polyps
07 Types Of Corals In Different Groups
08 Importance Of Coral Reefs
09 Threats
10 Conclusion & Reference
 INTRODUCTION
A coral reef is an underwater ecosystem characterized by reef-
building corals. Reefs are formed of colonies of coral polyps held
together by calcium carbonate .Most coral reefs are built from stony
corals, whose polyps cluster in groups. Coral colonies grow
continuously in size by budding of polyps and often form extensive
masses. Known as coral reefs. According to T. Wayland Vaughan
(1917) , a coral reef is a ridge mound of limestone . The upper
surface of which is near the surface of sea and which is formed
chiefly of Calcium Carbonate secreted by coral polyps. Principal
builders of coral reefs are stony corals ( Madreporaria) .Coral
belongs to the class Anthozoa in the animal phylum Cnidaria, which
includes sea anemones and jellyfish. Unlike sea anemones, corals
secrete hard carbonate exoskeletons that support and protect the
coral. Most reefs grow best in clear, sunny and agitated, warm
shallow waters (normally abouve 20°C) .Coral reefs first appeared
485 million years ago, at the dawn of the Early Ordovician,
displacing the microbial and sponge reefs of the Cambrian.Coral
reefs flourish in ocean waters that provide few nutrients. They are
most commonly found at shallow depths in tropical waters, but deep
Water and cold water coral reefs exist on smaller scales in other
areas.
FORMATION OF CORAL REEFS
Most coral reefs were formed after the Last Glacial Period when melting ice
caused sea level to rise and flood continental shelves. Most coral reefs are
less than 10,000 years old. As communities established themselves, the
reefs grew upwards,pacing rising sea levels. Reefs that rose too slowly could
become drowned, without sufficient light. Coral reefs are also found in the
deep sea away from continental shelves, around oceanic islands and atolls.
The majority of these islands are volcanic in origin. Others have tectonic
origins where plate movements lifted the deep ocean floor.
TYPES OF CORAL REEFS
Just as there are different types of corals, there are different types of coral
reefs. The three main types of reefs are fringing reefs, barrier reefs and
atolls.

Fringing reefs
Fringing reefs are coral reefs that grow in shallow waters. They closely
border the coastline or are separated from it by a narrow stretch of water.
Many of the reefs round Sri Lanka and Thailand are fringing reefs.
A fringing reef, also called a shore reef,is directly attached to a shore, or
borders it with an intervening narrow, shallow channel or lagoon. It is the
most common reef type. Fringing reefs follow coastlines and can extend
for many kilometres. They are usually less than 100 metres wide, but some
are hundreds of metres wide. Fringing reefs are initially formed on the
shore at the low water level and expand seawards as they grow in size. It is
largely composed of coral sand, mud, dead and living coral,colonies and
other animals.
Barrier reefs
Barrier reefs grow parallel to the coast, but are separated from land by a
lagoon. They are found sometimes many kilometres from shore (10–
100km). Barrier reefs can grow in fairly deep water, because, often,
the living coral builds upon remains of corals that grew in the same area
when sea level was lower, during the last ice age. The Great Barrier Reef of
Australia extends about 2,010km parallel to the east coast. Barrier reefs are
separated from a mainland or island shore by a deep channel
or lagoon. They resemble the later stages of a fringing reef with its lagoon
but differ from the latter mainly in size and origin. Their lagoons can be
several kilometres wide and 30 to 70 metres deep.The best known and
largest example of a barrier reef is the Australian Great Barrier
Reef. Other major examples are the Belize Barrier Reef and the New
Caledonian Barrier Reef.
Atoll
Atolls grow surrounding (or partly surrounding) an island which then sinks
relative to sea level (usually because volcanic activity forming the island
stops), or was flooded as sea level rose after the last ice age. Atolls
surround (or partly surround) a central lagoon.

Atolls or atoll reefs are amore or less circular or continuous barrier reef
that extends all the wayaround lagoon without a central island they are
usually formed from finging reefs around volcanic island. Over time, the
island erodes away and links below sea level .Atolls may also be formed
by the sinking of the seabed or rising of the sea level .A ring of reefs
results ,which encolse a lagoon. Atolls are found in the Indian Ocean, for
example, in the Maldives, the Chagos islands, the Seychelles and around
Cocos Island. The entire Maldives consist of 26 atolls.
WHAT ARE CORAL ?
Corals are two-layered invertebrates that live in groups (i.e. they are
colonial) and are related to jellyfish and sea anemones. Corals are made up
of tiny individuals called polyps. Each polyp is like a fluid-filled bag with a
ring of tentacles surrounding its mouth, and looks like a tiny anemone.
Polyps within a colony are linked by living issues and can share their food
(Allen & Steene, 1994). In some corals, the polyp extracts calcium carbonate
from the sea and secretes it as a cup of calcium carbonate from the bottom
half of its body. These cups provide anchorage for the polyps but when
threatened, the polyp can retreat into the safety of the hard cup.
When the calcium carbonate cups of many billions of these polyps fuse
together, they form coral reefs.

When alive, corals are colonies of small animals embedded in calcium

calcium carbonate shells. Coral heads consist of accumulations of individual
animals shells. Coral heads consist of accumulations of individual animals
shells. Coral heads consist of accumulations of individual animals called
polyps, arranged in diverse shapes. Polyps are usually tiny, but they can
range in size from a pinhead ange in size from a pinhead to 12 inches (30 cm)
across. Reef-building or hermatypic coralshermatypic corals live only in the
photic zone (above 70(above 70 m), the
depth to which sufficient sunlight penetrates the water depth to which
sufficient sunlight penetrates the water.
ZOOXANTHELLAE
Coral polyps do not photosynthesize, but have a symbiotic relationship with
oral polyps do not photosynthesize, microscopic algae (dinoflagellates) of
the genus Symbiodinium,commonly reffered to as zooxanthellae. These
organisms live within the polyps' tissues and provide zooxanthellae.Organic
nutrients that nourish the polyp in the form of glucose, glycerolglycerol and
amino acids. Because of this relationship, coral reefs grow much faster in
clear water which admits more sunlight. Without their symbionts, coral
growth would be too slow to form significant reef structures.

Corals get up to 90% of their nutrients from their symbionts. In return, as

an example ofIn return, as an example of mutualism, the corals shelter the
mutualism, the corals shelter the zooxanthellae, averaging one million for
every cubic centimeter of coral, and provide ooxanthellae, averaging one
million for every cubic centimeter of coral, and provide ooxanthellae,
averaging one million for every cubic centimeter of coral, and provide a
constant supply of the carbon dioxide they need for photosynthesis. they
need for photosynthesis.
Structure of coral polyp
A typical coral polyp from a colony is a small organism about 10mm long
and 1 to 3 mm in diameter. Solitary coral polyp are much larger reaching
upto 25cm in diameter. A basal disc is absent because the basal region of
polyp is surrounded by a calcareous exoskeleton. Oral disc bears numerous
tentacles, in several rows around an elongated, oval or circular mouth.
Pharynx is short and without siphonoglyphs. Mesenteries are restricted to
the upper part of coelenteron and mesenterial filaments contain only one
glandular lobe bearing nematocysts. Bodywall is without cinclides and
nematocyst bearing structures (acontia) . Muscles are poorly developed
while little is known about nervous system.

Living polyps found only on surface layers of coral masses. They feed at
night both by raptorial and suspension feeding. When no feeding they
withdraw into cup like cavities of skeleton.
Types of corals in different groups -
1 - Hydrozoan Corals

Order Hyderocorallina includes few genera, like millepora, stylaster and

Distichopora, which are colonial and secrete massive branched calcareous
exoskeletons. These are found in coral reefs with other corals. Skeleton is secreted
by a modified epidermis, called calicoblastic layer. Living within the skeleton occur
two types of polyps a large feeding, large feeding gastrozooids and defensive
dactylozooids.

2 - Octacorallian Corals
Order Alcyonacea includes marine, colonial and soft corals. A well-known genus is
Alcyonium nh, popular as 'dead man's fingers' because of it's resemblance to a
human hand. It has an endoskeleton of separate calcareous spicules embedded in a
massive mesogloea or coenenchyme.

3 - Hexacorallian Corals
Order madrepora includes stony corals or true corals, which are the principal
builders of coral reefs. While some of them are solitary, most are colonial,
assuming a great variety of forms.
 importance of coral reefs
Coral reefs are extremely productive ecosystems and provide humans with many
services.
PROVISIONING SERVICES:
Coral reefs support human life and livelihoods and are important economically.
Nearly 500 million people depend - directly and indirectly – on coral reefs for their
livelihoods,food and other resources (Wilkinson, 2004). Further, it is estimated that
nearly 30 million of the poorest human populations in the world depend entirely on
coral reefs for their food (Wilkinson, 2004).
Many coral species and species associated with coral reefs have medicinal values.
Several species are used in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) and many are now
providing novel resources for allopathic medicine.

REGULATING SERVICES:
Coral reefs protect the shoreline and reduce flooding. Very importantly, coral reefs
protect the shoreline, providing a physical barrier – a wall against tidal surges,
extreme weather events, ocean currents, tides and winds. In doing so, they prevent
coastal erosion, flooding and loss of infrastructure. Because of this, they
serve to reduce huge costs involved with destruction and displacement due to
extreme weather events.
SUPPORTING SERVICES:
Coral reefs are an essential part of land accretion.The natural action of waves
breaks pieces of calcified coral and these are washed up onto beaches. Through the
process of natural physical breakdown, these larger pieces are broken into smaller
and smaller pieces and eventually become part of the rubble, building these beaches.
Corals, therefore, contribute, in part, to the process of accretion- which is the
opposite of erosion.
Coral reefs are very diverse.
Corals do not even cover 1% of the Earth’s surface, but they are extremely diverse.
In fact they are dubbed the rain forests of the sea because of this immense diversity.
The nooks and crannies formed within reefs by constant beating of waves provide
shelter to many species.
Coral reefs have high primary productivity.
Zooxanthellae photosynthesise and produce their own food (like green plants do on
land) and corals benefit from this association. Because of the immense diversity of
coral reefs, there is a great deal of exchange of nutrients and primary productivity
(food production) is very high.

CULTURAL SERVICES:
Coral reefs have intrinsic, aesthetic and recreational values.
The beauty of coral reefs and their diversity are essential parts of many cultures in
different
parts of the world. Because of their easy access, visiting coral reefs is an important
recreation for snorkelers, scuba divers, recreational fishermen and beach lovers.
 Threats
Despite their immense ecological, economical and aesthetic values,
it is estimated that 20% of the world’s coral reefs have been
destroyed (Wilkinson, 2004). Another 24% are at high risk of
collapse, and yet another 26% at risk from long term collapse as a
result of human activities. If the present rate of destruction
continues, 70% of the world’s coral reefs will be destroyed by the
year 2050.
Human activities that threaten coral include coral mining, bottom
trawling, and the digging of canals and accesses into islands and
bays, all of which can damage marine ecosystems if not done
sustainably. Other localized threats include blast fishing
overfishing,coral overmining, and marine pollution, including use of
the banned anti-fouling biocide tributyltin; although absent in
developed countries, these activities continue in places with few
environmental protections or poor regulatory enforcement.
Chemicals in sunscreens may awaken latent viral infections in
zooxanthellae and impact reproduction. However, concentrating
tourism activities via offshore platforms has been shown to limit the
spread of coral disease by tourists.
 CONCLUSION
Coral reefs provides an important ecosystem for life
under water ,protect coastal areas by reducing he power
of waves hitting the coast and provide a crucial source of
income for millions of people.

REFERENCE
 Goggle
 Modern text book of zoology by R.L Kotpal
 wikipedia
 https://noaa.gov
 https://www.marine.usf.edu
 https://www.worldwildlife.org