5 CONDITIONS FOR EXISTENCE OF CORAL REEFS

 Corals is limestone rock made by accumulation of skeletons of tiny marine organisms called coral polyps. Reefs are shallow, mostly submarine features, build primarily by colonies of living marine organisms, including corals, sponges and shellfish. Coral reefs occur only in the places coral polyps can survive and thrive .

 Image result for CORAL POLYPS

 The following are five conditions which favor occurrence of coral reefs;

  • Sunlight - coral reefs need to grow in shallow water where sunlight can reach them. Corals depend on the zooxanthellae (algae) that grow inside of them for oxygen and other things, and since these algae need sunlight to survive corals also need sunlight to survive. Corals rarely develop in water deeper than 50 meters since sunlight can not penetrate beyond this point.

Image result for CONDITION FOR OCCURRENCE CORAL POLYPS

  • Clean water, corals need clean water that lets the sunlight through. They do not thrive well in muddy like near river mouth. Sediments and plankton can cloud water which decrease the amount of sunlight that reaches the zooxanthellae

Image result for CONDITION FOR OCCURRENCE CORAL POLYPS

  • Warm water - reef building corals require warm water condition to survive. Different corals living in different regions can withstand various temperature fluctuations. However corals generally in water temperature of 20 - 30 degree Celsius, this is the reason why coral reef appear on the eastern part of continents due to presence of warm currents.

Image result for CONDITION FOR OCCURRENCE CORAL POLYPS

  • salty water - corals need salty water to survive and require certain balance in the ratio of salt to water. this is why corals do not live in areas where rivers drain fresh water into the sea.

 

  • Corals in order to grow also need plentiful supply of plankton and enough oxygen. This is important because like any other living organism corals polyps need food and oxygen so as to grow and be able to reproduce

 RELATED POSTS

COMPARISON BETWEEN FISHING IN KENYA AND JAPAN

THE CONCEPT OF ENVIRONMENT, COMPONENTS OF ENVIRONMENT AND THE PROBLEM FACING ENVIRONMENT

Five (5) Advantages of questionnaire as data collection tool in research

5 DISADVANTAGES OF ROAD TRANSPORT

10 FACTORS THAT AFFECT OCEAN SALINITY

CAUSES AND EFFECTS OF OCEAN BREEZE AND SEA BREEZE

PLATE TECTONICS THEORY EXPLAINED

9 CHARACTERISTICS OF COMMERCIAL LIVESTOCK FARMING

Characteristics of tropical northern climate

12 FACTORS THAT FAVOURED THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE ASWAN HIGH DAM PROJECT IN EGYPT

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Ten (10) difference between weather and climate

Image
 Weather: Weather can be defined as the physical condition or state of the atmosphere at a particular time and place. Climate: Climate is defined as generalized or average condition of weather of a place or region. Or Climate: It is a composite or generalized of the variety of day to day weather conditions. Difference between weather and climate Sr No Weather Climate 1 Instantaneous physical state of atmosphere at particular place. Normal physical state or generated condition of atmosphere or long term average condition of a place. 2 Weather changes refer to specific instant of time( day or week) It is generalized over a longer span of time and for a longer area. 3 It is expressed in terms of numerical values of meteorological elements. It is expressed in terms of time averages and area averages of meteorological elements. 4 Weather is measured in observatory. So the observatory must at a place for which weather is to be described. This is derive...
Read more

KCSE GEOGRAPHY FORM FOUR NOTES PDF FREE DOWNLOAD

Image
  KCSE GEOGRAPHY FORM FOUR NOTES FREE DOWNLOAD RELATED POSTS COMPARISON BETWEEN FISHING IN KENYA AND JAPAN THE CONCEPT OF ENVIRONMENT, COMPONENTS OF ENVIRONMENT AND THE PROBLEM FACING ENVIRONMENT Five (5) Advantages of questionnaire as data collection tool in research 5 DISADVANTAGES OF ROAD TRANSPORT 10 FACTORS THAT AFFECT OCEAN SALINITY CAUSES AND EFFECTS OF OCEAN BREEZE AND SEA BREEZE PLATE TECTONICS THEORY EXPLAINED 9 CHARACTERISTICS OF COMMERCIAL LIVESTOCK FARMING Characteristics of tropical northern climate 12 FACTORS THAT FAVOURED THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE ASWAN HIGH DAM PROJECT IN EGYPT
Read more

5 METHODS OF MAINTAINING SOIL FERTILITY AND QUALITY

Image
  Soil conservation refer to measures that are taken to protect the soil from destruction . The main measures that are taken to conserve soil include maintaining soil fertility and quality, preventing soil loss or erosion, and preserving the soil. Maintenance of soil fertility and quality; The natural richness and fertility and richness of the soil should be maintained in order to ensure continued soil productivity. This can be achieved in the following ways. Crop rotation this involves changing the crops planted on the farm, by alternatively planting leguminous plants such as beans with other crops such as maize to maintain nitrogen level in the soil Mixed farming this involves planting crops and rearing animals on the same farm. mixed farming is important in maintaining soil fertility because the remains of crops are used to feed livestock while cow dung and other animals excrete are used as fertilizers for crops in the farm Mulching mulching is the act of covering the farm wi...
Read more