Cnidaria

Introduction: The African lungfishes are eel or salamander-like freshwater fishes belonging to the genus Protopterus that constitutes of four species that are all found in Africa. The genus Protopterus is the only genus affiliated to the family Protopteridae. The lifespan of lungfishes is about 20 years and more especially under favorable conditions. African lungfish are characterized by their outstanding adaptations that enabled them estivate during dry season. The species is also known by…

Introduction. Sharks have been around for hundreds of millions of years Subclass Elasmobranchii: Sharks and Rays are classified in the Kingdom Animalia, Phylum Chordata, Class Chondrichthyes(Greek, chondr- 'cartilage', ichthys 'fish'), and Class Elasmobranchii. Elasmobranchs are fish which all share one main characteristic: cartilaginous skeletons. There are over 1,000 species of elasmobranchs ranginging from great white sharks, to spotted rays to sawfish to skates. Sharks and rays are the…

The Hawksbill Turtle The hawksbill turtle are found in the atlantic, pacific, indian oceans, or any tropical waters. They are normally found near reefs rich with sponges. The Hawksbill turtle feeds on sponges and they are also omnivorous and will also eat mollusks, marine algae, crustaceans, sea urchins, fish, and jellyfish. Without them, sponges have the ability to overgrow corals and suffocate the reefs. Hawksbill are important inhabitants of coral reefs. It’s estimated that one turtle one…

The Great Barrier Reef (GBR) is found off the northeastern coast of Queensland, Australia, in the Coral Sea of the Pacific Ocean. Scientists believe that the coral reef structure was formed 60,000 years ago, but deteriorated due to climate & sea level changes. However, the coral reefs grew over the old structure. The current GBR is about 6,000 - 8,000 years old. The reef’s abiotic factors include sunlight, soil, water, climate, & temperature. It has a tropical climate & two distinct seasons,…

The Marine iguana which is a reptile is only found on the Galápagos Islands. They are herbivores and feed mostly on the algae on the rocks they lay on near the shore. The males, which are larger than the females, may grow to 4 feet or more. Iguanas seem to prefer rocky shores but may also be found in mangrove swamps and beaches. The iguanas can dive over 9 m down into the water. The lava lizard is a reptile which are native to South America. There are around 20 recognized species but only 7 of…

One type of sediment to note is diatomaceous earth, an uplifted siliceous ooze which contains the remains of the microscopic algae known as diatoms (Garrison and Ellis 152). With a density lower than most other sediments—measured at 0.2816 g/ml in our lab results—the powdery and apparently sticky sediment has rather tiny grains as expected from this sort of sediment. As diatomaceous earth derives from the diatom ooze of the deep ocean floor, it originates from the slow dissolution of diatom…

The Crown of Thorns starfish (Acanthaster Planci) Anjali Barnes 2016 Ms. Lee 9X Acanthaster planci Introduction The Crown of Thorns starfish, or Acanthaster Planci, is one of the largest threats to the Great Barrier Reef. The starfish, also known as COTS, can have up to 21 arms, each with hundreds of toxic spines. They move by expanding and contracting these feet, and feed on hard coral. Abiotic features are non-living or physical factors and can have a large effect on the Great Barrier Reef…

Coral Reefs A coral (disambiguation) reef is a community of living organisms. It is made up of plants, fish, and plenty other creatures. When I think of coral reefs I think of neon colors, and beautiful colorful dancing plants of the sea. Coral reefs are a submerged structure made up of many different corals, or small marine invertebrates. Coral reefs are some of the diverse ecosystems in the world. Twenty-five percent of all marine life is actually home to it. Coral reefs have said to be the…

The book, Coral Reefs, by Simon Rose, presents that categories of coral reefs, what coral reefs are home to, and the dangers that they may face. Coral reefs are made up of coral polyps that attach and multiply to a limestone skeleton called a calicle. Coral reefs are categorized in three ways, which is by their type. 1. Fringed reef, 2. Barrier reef, 3. Atolls. The fringed reef either borderers the shore near a lagoon, or it will be directly attached, next is the barrier reef. The barrier reef,…

Heart Reef The Heart Reef, in the Great Barrier Reef, is a beautiful organisation of coral and rocks naturally formed into the shape of a heart. The reef was created by hundreds of years of dead coral building up in a massive, underwater stone wall, which has then grown algae and new coral, which reproduces, dies and grows year by year. The Heart Reef is a beautiful array of stunning coral formations, naturally shaped into a heart. Surrounded by bright blue, crystal clear water, the heart…