Coral Reefs

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CORAL REEFS
Rahul Gupta Imran AhmedDepartment of
GeographyKirori Mal College (Delhi University)
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Contents

• Definition
• Types of Coral Reefs
• Distribution of Corals
• Condition for the growth of Corals Polyps
• Others types of Coral Reefs
• Conclusion

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Definition

• Coral
• Cup shaped Structure of calcium
  carbonate secreted by coecelenterates
• Coral Reefs
• Extensive mass of Coral colonies grow
  in size by budding of polyps

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Types of Coral Reefs

• Mainly Corals are of three types-
• Fringing Reefs
• Barrier Reefs
• Atolls Reefs

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• Fringing Reefs
• Grow near the shore of
  volcanic island OR Reef directly attached to
  shore or bordered with Lagoon
• Barrier Reefs
• Present at some distance
  from the Sea OR Form barrier b/w the Lagoon and
  Seas
• Atoll Reefs
• Ring like or Horse shoe shaped
  that encircle the Lagoon not the Island OR
  Circular Barrier Reefs all the way around the
  Lagoon

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Fringing Coral Reef
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Barrier Reefs
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Atoll Reefs
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Distribution of Coral Reefs

• Form in shallow warm water
• Usually near land mostly in tropics b/w the
  latitudes 30 degree North to 30 degree South
• Two distinctive Regions
• (1)Atlantic ocean
• (2)Pacific ocean

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Famous Coral Reefs

• Great Barrier Reefs
• (Australia)
• Belize Barrier Reefs
• (Mexico to Bay Islands of Honduras)
• Red Sea Coral Reefs
• (Egypt and Saudi Arabia)
• Pulley Ridge
• (Florida)

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Condition for the growth of Corals Polyps

• Temperature of Seawater (20-30 C )
• Depth Of Seawater (40-90 m)
• Turbidity of Seawater
• Flux of Fresh Water
• Ex.- Andaman Nicobar Island, Maldives.
• Ocean Salinity (27 - 30)
• Ocean Currents and Waves

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Other types of Coral ReefsMountain Coral
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Fungid Coral
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Agaricus Coral
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Pillar Coral
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Brain Coral
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Sponge type Coral
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Conclusion

• Protect Shore line from eroding as they are the
  Natural Barriers
• With out Coral Reefs part of Florida would be
  under water

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• THANKS for PATIENCE