Fantasy Fish Zones
Coral Reef (p.60 Intertidal)
Deep Ocean (p.60 Bathyal & Abyssal)
Open Ocean (p. 60 Bathyal)
Kelp Forest (p.60 Neritic)
CORAL- The Coral Reef Alliance Provided the following information. For more click on the preceeding link.
What is a coral reef?
Coral reefs are massive limestone structures that provide shelter for nearly one quarter
of all marine life. As one of the largest
and most complex ecosystems on the planet, coral reefs are home to over 4,000 different
species of fish, 700 species of coral,
and thousands of other plants and animals.
A good way to imagine a coral reef is to think of it as a bustling city or community, with
the buildings made of coral, and
thousands of inhabitants coming and going, carrying out their business. In this sense, a
coral reef is like a metropolis of the sea.
Where do corals live?
Coral reefs are found in over 100 countries. Most lie between the tropics of Cancer and
Capricorn, with the majority in the
Pacific, the Indian Ocean, the Caribbean, the Red Sea and the Arabian Gulf. They are also
found where warm currents flow out
of the tropics, such as Florida and southern Japan. Coral reefs now cover an estimated
600,000 square kilometers
(approximately 230,000 square miles).
Coral reefs mainly grow in warm tropical seas in temperatures between 70 and 85 degrees
Fahrenheit. It is possible for soft
corals to grow in temperatures higher or lower than this but growth rates are much slower.
Corals mostly grow in clear and
shallow waters since it is necessary for sunlight to filter through to their symbiotic
algae, zooxanthellae. It is possible to find corals
as deep as 300 feet, but reef-building corals do not grow well below 60 to 90 feet. Fresh
water can kill corals, so corals are not
found near river openings or coastal areas with excessive run-off.
Guest Photo Gallery- Coral Reef (great photos!)
Deep Sea Bestiary - check out this very cool site for photos and info on strange and bizzar deep sea creatures.
Birch Aquarium - Kelp cam and information on the fish in the kelp forest.
Montery Bay Aquarium - just up our coastline or here online, you can visit an exhibit a kelp forest exhibit.
BBC Watch Out - Kelp Forests are also found in Great Britian.