6+coastal+ecosystems

You have until next Tuesday to finish, and you're two days behind. I need to see a description of the pictures you're thinking about using for each slide. --Mr. Beyer

Coral reefs are complex biological environments that are home to many different species of ocean animals and plants. As human populations grow and coastal pressures increase coral reefs resources are more heavily exploited. Coral reef are threatened by pollution and people taking and braking off pieces of the coral reef. Coral them selves are animals that belong to the group, cnidarian. Other cnidarians include hydras, jellyfish, and sea anemones. Corals are //sessile// animals, that means that they are not mobile and stay fixed in one place. Corals live in colonies consisting of many individuals, each of which is called //polyp//. They secrete a hard calcium carbonate skeleton, which serves as a uniform base or //substrate// for the colony. The skeleton also provides protection, as the polyps can contract into the structure if predators approach. It is these hard skeletal structures that build up coral reefs over time. The calcium carbonate is secreted at the base of the polyps, so the living coral colony occurs at the surface of the skeletal structure, completely covering it.

__Slide Line Up

Slide #1__ Intro, Collin Holben, Jaden Ziner, Definitions of coral reefs and a picture. __Slide #2__ Coral reef plants. __Slide #3__ Coral reef animals. __Slide #4__ How do humans effect the coral reefs. __Slide #5__ How do coral reefs helps humans. __Slide #6__ How do coral reefs help plants and animals. __Slide #7__ How do plants and animals help the coral reef. __Slide #8__ Interactive wrap-up. __Slide #9__ Resources.