Coral Reef Symbiotic Relationships

Coral reefs exist all over the world and are generally known as being one of the most diverse, intricate and beautiful of all existing marine habitats. They have many varying structures which are developed by algae and are symbiotic with various reef building corals which are referred to as, zooxanthellae (algae). There are many other factors such as, coralline algae, sponges and other various organisms that are combined with a number of cementation processes which also contribute to reef growth, (CORAL REEFS, 2015).

So we will talk about biodiversity first. Biodiversity is a group of different living organisms from around the world in one community. And biodiversity helps the biosphere because they can produce better and help other plants and humans in need. Some plants and trees have different characteristics regarding to their species.

Corals are these beautiful marine invertebrate animals that are composed of calcium carbonate. They can be found in shallow warm tropical waters along the shores of some islands. Coral reefs are good for our ecosystem because they help remove carbon dioxide from our air. They are also important to our marine ecosystem because they provide protection for other marine organisms and other marine ecosystems. They are also known to protect the coastlines from tropical storms and tsunami. Corals also have a symbiotic relationship with single-cell algae called zooxanthellae. The corals provide protection and food for the algae and in return, the algae provide food for the corals through photosynthesis. The algae are also responsible for giving the corals their bright colors.

The biodiversity is very high in coral reefs. A coral reef takes about one percent of the ocean, but it has around twentyfive percent marine life. This means a lot to the coral reefs because the more species can lead to better conditions. There are many different kinds of fish that may eat algae, which can protect the coral. Bigger fish or even sharks keep the population of smaller fish in good hands. Some fish can hurt the zooxanthellae. Then there are “cleaners” that eat up dead organisms and keep the reef look nice.

In the article “What is biodiversity and why does it matter to us?” by Damian Carrington, Carrington dives into the pressing issue of biodiversity. He describes it as the most complex feature of our planet and the most vital. He goes into detail on how the losses of biodiversity are becoming as apparent, or even more so than climate change and how without it, there is no future for humanity. Carrington describes what biodiversity is composed of, he states that it starts with genes, species, communities of creatures, and then ultimately ecosystems, such as forests or coral reefs.

Biodiversity at its most basic level includes the full range of species on earth from micro- organisms such as viruses, bacteria through the multi cellular kingdom of plants, animals and fungi. Thus, it refers to the variety of species within a region. It measured on the basis of number of species in the region. Species' richness varies geographically. Out of an estimation 30 million species on earth, only one-sixth has been identified and authenticated in the past 200 years. Only 250,000 species of the total stock are

The coral holobiont consists of many different living components. In this paper, the main focus will be on the bacterial community of the coral holobiont. Since there has already been extensive study on algal interaction with the coral, the aim of this paper is to shed light on some of the lesser studied micro ecological communities and the implications that it has on the macro-ecological level of the ecosystem. In order to study the coral holobiont and the micro-ecological systems involved, a few questions must be answered. We must first define the structure of the coral holobiont and identify the bacteria specific to each environment. Then, we should examine potential interactions between the coral host and the bacteria communities.

Coral, of the phylum Cnidaria, is a is a crucial organism within many aquatic ecosystems providing food and shelter for both a large number and diverse range of species (Wilson et al., 2010). Individual animals have the ability to bud together to

“Biological diversity is of fundamental importance to the functioning of all natural and human-engineered ecosystems, and by extension to the ecosystem services that nature provides free of charge to human society ”(Lloyd, 2014). Biodiversity is very important to both plants, animals and humans on Earth and if one species is destroyed it throw the balance off .

level of biodiversity, refers to the total number of genetic characteristics in the genetic makeup of a species. It is distinguished from genetic variability, which describes the tendency of genetic characteristics to vary.

Ecosystem services and the ecological roles that facilitate such processes are analogous to species diversity. In terms of specie diversity in terrestrial ecosystems specialize species within soil compounds depend on these interactions to facilitate traits exhibiting specific productive ecosystem service. Often studied are specific species that exhibit a strong role in ecosystems by directly balancing energy and material fluxes or influence a biotic condition that facilitate the rate of these processes. A species may facilitates normal ecosystems, however, anthropogenic influence may limit essential roles. Moreover, within terrestrial system, specialized species may exhibit roles that impact vital ecosystems service or aesthetic icons. The role of biodiversity, allows for stronger interactions that may mediate the energy and materials necessary for biological functions of biotic or influence abiotic conditions, for instance inducing disturbance or modifying limiting resources. (Chapin et al 2013) Disturbance alterations, such as metal-contaminants that enter these systems include, but not limited to, fertilizers, mine & smelter byproducts, and industrial emission and effluent. (Calisi et al. 2013) Previous publications have not yet examined community level effects, although studies to date have often focus on bioaccumulation of heavy metals within individual

Franck and Brownstone define biological diversity as 'the variety and variability of living organisms and the biological communities in which they live' (36). Decades of progress in both the scientific and political arenas have advanced environmental legislation to protect biodiversity at not only the ecosystem level, but for specific species and genetic material as well. Research has shown the importance of every organism and their role in the global ecosystem, and legislation has gradually matured to protect not only species which may become endangered, but the habitats they need to survive as well. Growing consciousness surrounding environmental issues has enabled these protections to be

Introduction. Biodiversity is a variety of life on Earth at all levels from genes to ecosystems and the ecological and evolutionary process that is able to keep biodiversity in balance (Willington, 2005). Biodiversity is important because it satisfy’s everyone including animals, organisms and humans basic needs such as food and water source and as well shelter(Wood, 1997). The overall goal in biodiversity conservation is to create a foundation in developing ways to protect and use biological resources in a way where it does not destroy important habitats in an ecosystem (Nangendo, 2002). In ecology it has been taught that everything from

Biodiversity presents occurrence of variety of species and their natural community in which they live. By the definition it is “The degree of variation of life forms within a given species, ecosystem, biome, or an entire planet. It is a measure of the health of ecosystems and is in part a function of climate.” (Rutherford) Ecosystem is on the other hand, “ community and its abiotic environment”( Rutherford). Biodiversity exists in every ecosystem, weather it is big one, or just ecosystem of one garden, it has the same importance because without it nature loses its ability to perform major functions needed for life on Earth, as it is oxygen production. Trough this investigation, two different ecosystems will be explored and

Biodiversity is the to a great degree complex unification of countless types of greenery, fauna and microorganisms that exist into one natural ecosystem, and is the establishment for life on Earth, which is precisely why saving biodiversity is essential.