Coral reefs are “low input ecosystems” concerning flow of matter (D'Elia and Wiebe, 1990). High productivity of coral reefs is based on a high turnover rate of nutrients within the system , they are therefore not adapted to a high loss of matter.
Why are coral reefs the most productive ecosystems?
Coral reefs are among the most productive ecosystems on the planet, with the primary producers at the base of the food chain (including corals) supporting their complex food webs . ... Although light provides the energy that fuels reef productivity, key nutrients such as nitrogen and phosphorus are also required.
Do coral reefs have high primary productivity?
In coral reefs, primary production is tightly coupled with efficient utilization and regeneration of organic and inorganic nutrients, which allows an unusually high productivity in a nutrient poor environment (Muscatine and Porter, 1977; Hallock and Schlager, 1986).
What is the productivity of coral reefs?
Gross primary productivity is about 2,000 g C/mz/yr . This is in impressive agreement with re- sults obtained on the atoll reefs, which are the only previous measurements of coral reef productivity. All three results are considerably higher than determinations OF productivity of open ocean waters.
Why are coral reefs so rich in nutrients?
Like all other animals, corals need food and nutrients to grow and also to build reefs. ... This is because corals live in symbiosis with other organisms in and on the coral's body , like bacteria, algae, and fungi. These symbiotic relationships are very important to keep the coral animal fit and healthy.
What purpose does coral serve in an ocean ecosystem?
Coral reefs protect coastlines from storms and erosion , provide jobs for local communities, and offer opportunities for recreation. They are also are a source of food and new medicines. Over half a billion people depend on reefs for food, income, and protection.
What is the largest coral reef on the planet?
Stretching for 1,429 miles over an area of approximately 133,000 square miles , the Great Barrier Reef is the largest coral reef system in the world. The reef is located off the coast of Queensland, Australia, in the Coral Sea.
Is Deep Sea most productive ecosystem?
They estimate that worldwide, deep-sea hydrothermal vent microbial communities can produce more than 4,000 tons of organic carbon each day, the building block of life. That is roughly the same amount of carbon in 200 blue whales — making these ecosystems among the ocean's most productive on a per volume basis.
What is the most productive ecosystem?
The world's ecosystems vary tremendously in productivity, as illustrated in the following figures. In terms of NPP per unit area, the most productive systems are estuaries, swamps and marshes, tropical rain forests, and temperate rain forests (see Figure 4).
What is high net primary productivity?
Net primary productivity, or NPP, is gross primary productivity minus the rate of energy loss to metabolism and maintenance. In other words, it's the rate at which energy is stored as biomass by plants or other primary producers and made available to the consumers in the ecosystem.
What is the net primary productivity of coral reefs?
| ecosystem Net primary production – dry (g m – 2 year – 1 ) Area (10 6 km) | Open ocean 125 332 | Continental shelf 350 27 | Coral reef & estuaries 2,000 2 |
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What is the problem happening to the coral reef?
Coral reefs are dying around the world. Damaging activities include coral mining, pollution (organic and non-organic) , overfishing, blast fishing, the digging of canals and access into islands and bays. Other dangers include disease, destructive fishing practices and warming oceans.
What is the most productive wetland?
In general, swamps and marshes have the highest primary production of all the world's ecosystems. Primary production of all wetland types varies from 600-2000 gC/m2/y.
Do Coral reefs produce oxygen?
Just like plants, providing oxygen for our earth, corals do the same. Typically, deep oceans do not have a lot of plants producing oxygen, so coral reefs produce much needed oxygen for the oceans to keep many species that live in the oceans alive.
How do coral reefs provide food for humans?
Coral reefs provide food to millions of humans.
Corals, like trees, provide three-dimensional structure and substrate to house and feed fish and other marine animals that humans eat.
Do Coral reefs need nutrient rich water?
Nutrient-rich water encourages the growth of algae like phytoplankton (who cloud the water, blocking sunlight), and seaweeds who grow over the surface of the reef, keeping the corals from feeding or getting sunlight.
