Caribbean Coral Reefs

Caribbean Coral Reefs The Most colorful ecosystem on the planet

Caribbean coral reefs consist of a unique collection of stony coral species, which are additionally home to the wide range of many diverse indigenous species that hold high commercial value and feature rarity.These reefs also provide numerous benefits to nearby human communities, including shoreline protection from hurricanes, cyclones, or typhoons that regularly attack Caribbean waters and the support of cultural tourism.

Caribbean Coral Reefs appear within a relatively small part of the Earth’s tropical seas . The contiguous biogeographic region containing Caribbean Coral Reefs is commonly known as the “Greater Caribbean” ("Tropical Western Atlantic”). From the northern Bahamas through the Caribbean Sea, the Northeast coast of South America and ravishwaters of the Greater and Lesser Antilles create the true beauty of the Caribbean Coral Reefs.

General History: The complex structure of the Caribbean Coral Reefs has declined vastly with the rapid disappearance of the mulitplex reefs over the last 40 years. The troubled Caribbean Coral Reefs have been demonstrating symptoms of downfall since the early 1980s. It was followed by a period of stability between the years of 1985 and 1998, progressing into resumption of the decline in today's time. The temporal pattern of declining structure is linked with key events in modern Caribbean ecological history including the loss of beneficial Acropora corals, the mass extinction of the popular urchin, Diadema antillarum, as well as the El Nino Southern Oscillation-induced worldwide coral bleaching event in 1998. The widespread loss of abundant structure is likely to have serious consequences for reef biodiversity, ecosystem functioning and environmental assistance. In fact, there are many human individuals that rely heavily on the Caribbean Coral Reefs including habitat for reef fisheries, tourism approach and coastal defense from storms, cyclones, and typhoons. An increase in fleshy macroalgae (seaweed) across a large amount of the Caribbean region also plays a key factor in loss of Corals. Many impacts have contributed to the transition from coral to macroalgal dominated reefs including infectious disease, coral bleaching, increased water pressured storms, overfishing, and land-based run-off. An increase of sediment, pollution, toxic chemicals and nutrients have also been present in the reefs.

General Evolutional History: It's incredible to see how all coral reefs began life as single polyp - a tiny, soft marine animal attached to a hard surface. The species "Stony" coral (order Scleractinia) live in colonies and emit calcium carbonate, which play a key role in forming an external skeleton. Polyps grow and die within minutes as stony corals create the reefs that humans are familiar with to this day. Under the sea, there are also other species which resemble corals, including soft corals (order Alcyonacea) which do not form a skeleton. Coral Polyps have stinging tentacles that they use to catch food, similar to the families of Jellyfish and Sea Anemone species. During the day, the tentacles are usually folded away in order to stay out of sight of hungry fish and other predator marine animals. At night, Coral Polyps unfold the tentacles to catch prey such a plankton or small algae. Researchers have found fossils in the environment where over 6, 615 genera of marine species originated. The Caribbean Coral Reefs are a threshold for countless types of marine life, even groups such as clams and snails that researchers believed had ancient origins in shallow coastal waters.

The small algae, known as Zooxanthellae, are responsible for providing the Caribbean Coral Reefs the beautiful rich color it has. There are three basic kinds of coral reefs, ranging from barrier, atoll, fringing, and patch reefs. Barrier reefs are separated from land by lagoons, gradually growing parallel to the coast. As a result, a large and continuous reef is formed. Atolls are ring-shaped reefs that spread close to the sea surface on underwater islands or islands that subside. Fringing reefs grow in shallow waters close to the coast. Patch are tiny, isolated reefs that grow up from the open bottom of the island platform or continental shelf.

An example of a specialist species located in the Caribbean is the Green Sea Turtle. The Green Sea Turtle is known for its special yet dangerous journey from nest to egg, allowing much predation on newborn hatchlings . Unfortunately, it is classified as "endangered" due to threats by overharvesting of eggs, hunting of adults, caught infishing gear and loss of nesting beach sites.

For more information, visit http://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0039979 to learn more vital facts about the role of turtles as macro herbivores!

An example of a generalist species located in the Caribbean Coral Reefs are the Caribbean Four-eye Butterfly Fishes. The relationship between Caribbean Four-eye Butterfly fish feeding and coral defense-response is vastly attracting interest and importance to reef conservation efforts worldwide.

Demonstrating interspecific competition, the Overgrowing Ascidian grows upward in attempt to engulf a nearby branching coral. Several research studies prove that the overgrowths of Ascidian is caused by detection of the superior predator (competitor) of odors that are derived downstream from the competitively inferior prey (victim).

Common in many natural ecosystems, a large percentage of the predators exist both in and surrounding areas of the Caribbean coral reefs. Predators are fish that are ample to be larger than 6 feet or as small as 5 inches. As predation methods enhance every year, fish have adapted to the coral and dwell within a crack or crevice, waiting for an unsuspecting prey to approach. Predators underwater are looking for prey underwater as well, unless a diver or swimmer provokes. Predators in disguise include fishes include fairy basslet, spotted grouper, barracuda, angelfish, parrotfish, and crown-of-thorns starfish. The primeval predators include green turtle, sting ray, octopus, sea anemone, tiger shark, and manta ray, urchins, and drupella.

For centuries, the Caribbean coral reefs hold many parasistic species which impact the overall delicate habitat. The "ecotoparasitism" relationship relies between the Fish Doctor and small-bodied fishes. The Fish Doctor is a unique type of isopod crustacean which will attach itself under the fins, scales, or gills of a fish. Imediately, the Fish Doctor sucks the blood of the host fish until it becomes deceased. The "endoparasitism" relationship exists between the Pearl Fish and Sea Cucumbers. The Pearl Fish is known to be a mesoparasite, detecting chemicals released by the Sea Cucumber. It enters the Sea Cucumber when exchanging gas or breathing underwater. As a defense tactic, the Sea Cucumber attempts to remove Pearl Fish by removing a large amount of the digestive tract out through the anus. The Sea Cucumber risks its entire life by doing so.

As the Caribbean expands its' diverse indigenous species population, a beneficial mutual relationship exists between Hermatypic (reef-building) corals and Zooxanthellae/Coral polyps. As the Zooxanthellae live inside the Hermatypic coral tissue, Zooxanthellae consume the waste of the coral and turn the waste into substances that can be used by the coral for re-growth and maintenance. Fun Fact: Death is guaranteed for Hermatypic corals if the absence of Zooxanthellae becomes prolonged.

Regarding active commensalism in the Caribbean coral reefs, the relationship between several species of isopods and fish in one in particular that stands out. Although Isopods are usually parasitic and lack protective shells, there are some species that attach themselves to a fish without damaging outer layers of tissue on the fish. Isopods are external marine parasites which are large enough to be observed by the naked human eye and utilize complex sucker-like organs to firmly become attached to a host. Isopods forage floating food particles rather than feeding on a host.

In the Caribbean, there are many diverse Parrotfishes that maintain a herbivore diet that facilitate the maintenance and recovery of coral-dominated reefs by aiding in the control of algae and provisioning space for the recruitment of corals. Research studies prove of two genera of parrotfishes that were explicitly seperated by differences in diet. Fishes in the genus "Scarus" earmarked filamentous algal turf assemblages, crustose coralline algae, and endolithic algae and avoided macroalgae, while fishes in the genus "Sparisoma" favored macroalgae. The key differences indicate that each species that appear to be competitive based on diet and common functioning traits when observing resource partitioning.

For more information on a Parrotfish's importance to the Coral Reef Biome, feel free to visit http://voices.nationalgeographic.com/2014/07/02/to-save-coral-reefs-start-with-parrotfish/

An example of a r-selected species located within the Caribbean Coral Reefs is Coral itself, as the entire reef is formed on the complex structure of a single organism. As a colony of small polyps, it releases millions of young eggs into the water. There are hundreds of thousands species of coral in the Caribbean.

An example of a K-selected species located within the Caribbean Coral Reefs is the Green Sea Turtle. The Caribbean Coral Reefs contain a low amount of K-selected species. Green Sea Turtles only produce approximiately 100 eggs per year, and are constantly threatened by predators who prey on new born hatchlings as Green Sea Turtles travel long distances from nest to egg.

Short Story of An Overshoot of Carrying Capacity in the Caribbean Coral Reefs

Through recent research studies, the major concern for the public is the carrying capacity of coral reefs for divers. Research in the Red Sea proves that traditional divers pose as a threat to coral, cause stress and reduce reef metabolism. There are large clumps of the massive coral along the edges of the reef. There was an initial limit to the visitors who could dive into the waters of the Caribbean Coral Reef, but the carrying capacity had overshot when more than a record of 300,000 dives had taken place on the delicate reefs, increasing average recorded dives annually. Even though it may seem as a harmless, fun sport, diving off fragile coral reefs into the waters can be very threatening to the overal health of the Caribbean Coral Reefs.

The diverse population in the Caribbean Coral Reefs consists of one quarter of all ocean species who are crucially dependent on reefs for food and shelter. Reefs are home to a large variety of animals, including various species of fish, seabirds, polychaetes, sponges, cnidarians (various types of corals and jellyfish), worms, crustaceans (shrimp, spiny lobsters and crabs), mollusks (including cephalopods), echinoderms (starfish, sea urchins and sea cucumbers), and various sea squirts, turtles and snakes. Human and animal populations are rare to observe on the Caribbean Coral Reefs.

An example of both primary and secondary succession in the Caribbean Coral Reefs are the Coral. Primary succession begins as a volcano erupts and lava creates a blank slate with absolutely no sign of biotic life. Coral is deposited and begins to grow on the lava flow. Being the first to colonize, Coral becomes classified as an r-selected species as well. Additionally, Coral undergoes secondary succession through the process of spawning. As Coral releases its many eggs, it stacks new offspring on top of itself and creates a protected reef with structured layers. The surface also allows K-selected species to live and grow.

Since the beginning of time, the Coral Reef biome is found within shallow, saline water. The sea surface temperatures can be as low as 68° F to as high as 97° F. Coral Reef systems also can be found in the West Atlantic, East Atlantic, and East Pacific oceans between 30° N and 30° S. Throughout the centuries, a structure of limestone builds up in warm, clear tropical or subtropical water. It's amazing to see over 100,000 marine animal species from almost every phylum live on tropical reefs, including 1,500 kinds of stony coral. As a result of the decline of grazers such as sea urchins and parrotfish, a lead to the decline of fish population and coral in the Caribbean Coral Reefs is present to this day.

In order for Coral Reefs to flourish, the water must be warm, clear, and saline. The Caribbean Coral Reefs are located in a salt water system. Due to high dependency on light, reef corals require clear water. Coral reefs generally are found only where the surrounding water contains small amounts of in water of suspended material, where low turbidity and low productivity is active. Therefore, Corals thrive in waters that are insuffieniecnt in nutrients, but is still known to be the most productive of marine environment.

The new geological structures located in the Caribbean Coral Reefs impact the older form of Sea-water chemistry and the overall shape of ocean basins. These two components have evolved the Caribbean Coral Reefs from broad, shallow seaways and intracontinental seas, into a mostly exposed and steep platform boundary of of today's time. The Caribbean Coral Reefs dedicate origins to the biological secretion of calcium carbonate by living organisms, rigid structures standing sturdy against the surrounding sea floor, and exertion of limited amount of control on local oceanographic processes.

Issues that are impacting an endangered environment for Caribbean Coral Reefs include:

For more information, visit these informational articles regarding the major contributing factors to the threat of biotic life in the Caribbean!

http://www.wri.org/publication/reefs-risk-caribbean
http://wwf.panda.org/about_our_earth/blue_planet/coasts/coral_reefs/coral_threats/

Discarded Fishing Gear: Corals and abrade polyp tissue become entangled in the equipment, which lead to coral lesions and extinction.
Nutrients: Discharged sewage (treated and untreated) and industrial pollutants, surface run off containing traces of agricultural fertilisers, animal waste and sediments from deforested areas can change the natural balance of nutrients in the ocean.
Sedimentation: Coastal erosion, development, deforestation and other terrestrial activities have proven to to increase sediment amounts transported on to coral reefs via surface run off and river discharge, casuing stress to corals overall.
Coral Diseases: Damage the tissue and vital functions of polyps resulting in either partial or complete mortality.
Coral Bleaching: Corals are known for flamboyant color pigment. One of the cashing factors for corals to lose color, or become "bleached" is due to the expulsion of zooxanthelle symbionts from the corals host tissue in response to environmental perturbation. Environmental stresses linked to coral bleaching include long exposure to strong sunlight and high sea surface temperatures during the months of June, July, etc.

People & organizations that are working on addressing issues in the Caribbean Coral Reefs:

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, The Nature Conservancy, Global Coral Reef Monitoring Network, International Union for Conservation of Nature, United Nations Environment Program, Environmental Protection Agency, Coral Restoration Foundation, Universal Environmentalists & Local Teachers, Students, Families and Friends are sharing their part in restoring a once lavish, abundant ecosystem home to many indigenous species.

For more information, visit these informational articles regarding what people in your local community and wide spread nation are doing to help out!

http://grist.org/science/coral-reefs-are-in-trouble-meet-the-people-trying-to-rebuild-them/
http://www.care2.com/causes/5-of-the-worlds-most-endangered-coral-reefs.html
http://www.nmfs.noaa.gov/pr/species/invertebrates/corals.htm
http://www.natureworldnews.com/articles/19613/20160131/laboratory-grown-corals-help-researchers-restore-critically-endangered-reefs.htm
http://act.oceanconservancy.org/site/DocServer/Coral_final.pdf?docID=4501

HOW CAN YOU HELP?

Join a local or community environmental support program that specializes in restoring endangered ecosystems such as the Caribbean Coral Reefs.
When visiting or observing a reef, respect local guidelines and support reef-friendly businesses. Keep a safe distance at all times.
Champion Marine Protected Areas: MPAs give reefs the chance to recover, so support the creation of more and better “undersea Yosemites.”
Fight climate change: Reduce your own carbon footprints and promote elected officials to support mitigation and adaptation strategies. Not only are you helping to restore ecosystems, you are helping each aspect of the Earth!
Use chemical pesticides and fertilizers carefully: Even if you live thousands of miles from a coral reef, different products can travel into your local waterways such as sinks, toilets, bathtubs, etc. and directly into the ocean.

Bibliography & Additional Resources

Aldred, Jessica. "Caribbean Coral Reefs 'will Be Lost within 20 Years' without Protection." The Guardian. Guardian News and Media, 02 July 2014. Web. 01 Apr. 2016.
Alevizion, William. "Caribbean Coral Reefs." : Types, Characteristics, Marine Life. N.p., 1 July 2015. Web. 01 Apr. 2016
Chadwick, Nanette, and Kathleen Morrow. "Total Synthesis of Montanine-Type Alkaloids." Synfacts 10.02 (2014): 0114. NSF. Web.
"Coral Reefs: Threats." World Wide Fund for Nature, 2016. Web.
Dawson, J. "Biogeography of Azooxanthellate Corals in the Caribbean and Surrounding Areas." Coral Reefs 21.1 (2002): 27-40. Marine Spatial Ecology Lab, 3 Sept. 1996. Web. 31 Mar. 2016.
Dustan, Phil. "Coral Reefs." Coral Reefs. SCUBA, n.d. Web. 01 Apr. 2016
Introduction to Coral Reefs." Unity Team, n.d. Web. 01 Apr. 2016.
Thomas, Edwin. "About Caribbean Coral Reefs." About Caribbean Coral Reefs. USA Today, n.d. Web. 01 Apr. 2016.
"Threats to Coral Reefs." Defenders of Wildlife. Defenders of Wildlife, 01 May 2012. Web. 01 Apr. 2016.
Morelle, Rebecca. "Caribbean Coral Reefs 'could Vanish in 20 Years' - BBC News." BBC News. BBC News, 02 July 2014. Web. 01 Apr. 2016.
Sikkel, Paul. "Reef Parasites: Predator or Scapegoat." LiveScience. TechMedia Network, 05 July 2013. Web. 01 Apr. 2016.

Meet the Author

Fatima Iqbal is a passionate student who studied AP Environemental Science at Valley Academy of Arts and Sciences Highschool. Researching for an entire semester worth, her contribution to helping the environment of the Caribbean Coral Reefs is remarkably effective as well as informing her classmates about the current threats to this diverse biome .

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