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Coral Reef Quiz
Coral Reef Quiz
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Special thanks to Angela Lekan and Kimiya Attar for their work.
What percent of all marine species live in coral reefs?
Sometimes referred to as the rainforests of the sea, coral reefs are some of the most biologically diverse ecosystems on the planet, hosting 25% of the world’s marine life.
How much of the ocean floor do coral reefs make up?
Despite the fact that coral reefs host a quarter of all marine life, they actually only make up 0.1% of the ocean floor. This does not mean that they are not incredibly important to humans – the total economic value of coral reefs each year is estimated to be $3.4 billion each year for the United States.
In what ways do coral reefs benefit humans?
Coast lines with coral reefs face less erosion seeing as reefs absorb 97% of wave impact, thus lessening property damage. They also feed over half a billion people across the globe and have been found to produce chemicals with anti-inflammatory and pain-relieving properties that have been used in developing new treatments for cancer, arthritis, and infections.
How do coral obtain their color?
The iconic color of coral can be attributed to microscopic algae known as zooxanthellae. These algae in turn get their color from molecules called chlorophyll that help them absorb sunlight to turn into food, 90% of which they give to the coral.
What is coral bleaching?
Coral bleaching occurs when waters become too warm which causes the coral to become stressed and expel zooxanthellae as a result. This causes the coral to lose its main source of food, causing them to become very weak, as well as their color, turning them a ghostly white.
How does ocean acidification affect coral?
When oceans become more acidic, they deplete a substance called calcium carbonate from the waters. This is a necessary material for corals to create their skeletons, so this results in their skeletons dissolving.
Which of the following manmade products hurts coral reefs?
Some sunblocks contain chemicals such as oxybenzone and benzophenone-2 which can damage coral DNA and cause their skeletons to grow abnormally.
When is Coral Reef Awareness week?
Coral Reef Awareness week is recognized every year on the third full week of July to bring awareness to our coral communities!
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