Biome Introduction
Coral Reef Biome
The Great Barrier Reef, situated in Far North Queensland, Australia, is the largest coral reef biome in the world. Coral Reef Biomes are, according to many biologists, more diverse and productive than land biomes. Although the Coral Reef Biome in located in the ocean, it is separate from the ocean biome, and is located mostly in tropical areas. The characteristics of this biome depend on whether it is a hard or soft coral reef. Hard coral reefs have limestone skeletons left behind from brain coral and elk horn coral, in comparison to soft coral which does not leave behind skeletons.
There are also three types of coral reefs: Fringing reefs, Barrier Reefs and Coral Atolls. Fringing reefs grow near the coastline around islands and continents and they are the most common type of reef. Barrier Reefs are also near the coastline but are separated by deeper, wider lagoons, and at their shallowest point they can reach the water's surface, forming a "barrier" to navigation. Coral Atolls are "rings of coral that create protected lagoons" and are typically found in the middle of the sea. They are usually formed when islands surrounded by fringing reefs sink into the sea or the sea level rises around them.
A key characteristic of this biome is warm water, due to the Coral Reefs being situated in shallow water where the sunlight can get to the sea floor and warm up the area. Coral Reefs are not able to survive below an average temperature of 18°C and so this limits their habitat to waters between 23°N and 23 °S latitude.
Other places where Coral Reef Biomes are situated, other than Australia, are the Caribbean, Florida, South India, East Africa and Brazil. The most diverse coral reef ecosystems are located in Indonesia.
There are also three types of coral reefs: Fringing reefs, Barrier Reefs and Coral Atolls. Fringing reefs grow near the coastline around islands and continents and they are the most common type of reef. Barrier Reefs are also near the coastline but are separated by deeper, wider lagoons, and at their shallowest point they can reach the water's surface, forming a "barrier" to navigation. Coral Atolls are "rings of coral that create protected lagoons" and are typically found in the middle of the sea. They are usually formed when islands surrounded by fringing reefs sink into the sea or the sea level rises around them.
A key characteristic of this biome is warm water, due to the Coral Reefs being situated in shallow water where the sunlight can get to the sea floor and warm up the area. Coral Reefs are not able to survive below an average temperature of 18°C and so this limits their habitat to waters between 23°N and 23 °S latitude.
Other places where Coral Reef Biomes are situated, other than Australia, are the Caribbean, Florida, South India, East Africa and Brazil. The most diverse coral reef ecosystems are located in Indonesia.
- Coral reef biomes are naturally colourful due to the presence of algae, but if the coral appears white, it means that there is pollution present.
- Coral grows up to 2 cm per year, meaning that coral reefs take a very long time to grow.
- The diversity of the species living within different coral reefs depends on the reefs' latitude and direction of the water.
- The plant life in a coral reef biome is more diverse than the animal life (contrary to popular belief).