Underwater Adventures: Coral Reefs of Puerto Rico
🕑 Added 2021-07-22 23:13:21 +0000 UTCWhat is a coral reef?
Coral reefs are one of the most attractive and most complex biological communities on the planet. The word “coral” is used to describe a group of tiny organisms, from the phylum Cnidaria, that secrete hard calcareous skeletons and live in colonies in the form of polyps.
In the Caribbean, there are more than 70 stony corals, whose skeletons are complex structures we call coral reefs. Associated with these are soft or horny corals, some Zoantharia, and millepora or “stinging corals”.
Biology and ecology of coral reefs
The biological combination of colonial organisms and associated flora and fauna make up the coral reef, one of the biological systems in which nature expresses its greatest splendor and complexity. Slow but steady coral growth takes thousands of years; the accumulation of sediment and fragments that are generated in the reef allows corals to survive, despite increases in sea level. The vertical growth, at the rate of 0.5 to 1.5 cm per year, allows the reef to adjust to these changes. Many of the modern reefs were established less than 15 thousand years ago when sea level was 85 meters (279 feet) below the current level, and island platforms began to flood as a result of the rapid rise in sea level.
Coral polyps have tentacles with which they capture zooplankton that swims freely in the water. The most unique characteristic of polyps is that they have unicellular algae, known as zooxanthellae, inside.
Numerous hiding places between coral blocks provide shelter to a wide variety of animals including sponges, worms, mollusks, crustaceans, sea urchins, sea stars, holothurians, and fish that are characterized by vivid, contrasting colors. This complex community of organisms, closely integrated as a result of a long evolution, gives rise to the ecosystem of coral reefs. The deployment of colors found in the reef is not an accident but rather the result of the complexity of that biological community.
In Puerto Rico, there are three types or forms of reefs:
• Fringing reef – This type of reef surrounds a non-coral coastline. It is often separated from the coast by a lagoon or shallow, narrow body of water whose floor is covered in calcareous sands and seagrass. This type of reef is one of the most common in Puerto Rico; but because of its proximity to the coast itself, it is also the one most degraded by human activity.
• Barrier reef – This type of reef occurs further away from the coast. In Puerto Rico, this type is represented by a reef which lies at the edge of the island shelf at depths of 20 meters (65 feet).
• Bank reefs – Bank reefs are located on the platform between the two previous types. This type of structure is known as coral platform or bank-barrier. These reefs often acquire crescent shapes because the coral grows and consolidates preferably towards the waves.
(from Enciclopedia De Puerto Rico)
Comments
Greg Smith
Beautiful sweetie. The reef looks good also.
plaid_undercat
So peaceful. Relaxing.
Tony Davis
Stunning video
David L. Chapman
Danielle, both you and the reef looked beautiful. Good choice for the filming of this video.
PowderedToastMan
The tushy is hypnotic.
