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2. Let’s Learn
Coral reef is ridge of rock in the sea formed by the growth
and deposit of coral.
Coral reefs are found mostly in the tropics where the
water is warm. The Philippines has many coral reefs because it is
located in the tropics. Coral reefs serve as home for thousands
of species of plants and animals.

3. Coral Reef Structure
Coral reefs are made of corals, sea
anemones, and thousands of tiny animals
called coral polyps. Some coral polyps are
hard, like brain coral and elkhorn coral, while
other corals, like sea fans and carnation coral,
are soft.
Corals are colonial animals. This means
that they grow in colonies. These thousands
of animals all live together in a small area.
Their skeletons grow together in large mass
and build up a chain of large stony structures
called a reef, along with the algae living
alongside the coral polyps.

4. Independence in a Coral Reef Ecosystem
Coral reef ecosystem or “rain forest of the sea” is a
community where interactions between living and nonliving
organisms occur. This ecosystem is one of the earth’s most
biologically diverse ecosystems like the tropical rain forests.
- Coral reef ecosystem is made up of the combination of
soft and hard corals, crustaceans, mollusks, sea turtles, fishes,
snakes, and many more range of species.

5. - Coral reefs have the most biologically diverse species
because they provide food and shelter for many species.
-The coral ecosystem is surrounded by various species of
small species which attract big species to hunt for food in the
ecosystem. Thin layers of calcium carbonate from hundreds of
coral polyps or soft bodied animals make up the corals.
Primary factors that can affect the organisms in the ecosystem:
1. space
2. sunlight
3. food

6. Coral Reef Interactions
Symbiosis – the kind of relationship wherein two or more organisms
live closely together.
1. Parasitism – A relationship wherein
one kind of organism feeds on another kind of
organism without killing it.
host- reef fishes
parasites – small crustaceans (isopods
and copepods)
A famous example is the marine isopod tongue-eating loose (it remove the tongue
of the fish by extracting blood)

7. 2. Commensalism – a kind of
relationship where only one benefit from the
other, while the other is not affected at all.
This is demonstrated between imperial
shrimp uses the sea cucumbers as a mode of
transportation by riding on them.
3. Mutualism – a kind of
relationship wherein the organisms
benefit from one another. This type of
relationship exists between the clown fish
and the sea anemone.

8. 4. Predation – is the way of getting food by killing a prey.
Barracuda and sharks are the predators in the coral reef
ecosystem. The predators actually help in keeping the reef
healthy , when they eat weak or sick animals, they make fish
populations healthier.

9. intraspecific competition – competition between the
same species (two sharks competing to eat same food)
5. Competition – a kind of interaction where species
compete for the same resources such as space or food.
interspecific competition – competition between
different species (different fishes on their food)

10. Importance of Coral Reef Protection
1. Provide protection and shelter for many species of
fishes and sea life. It serve as a home to at least 25% of all
known-marine species.
a.They feed on plants and animals found there.
b. Breeding place for fishes and other marine
species.
2. Provide natural barrier against wave, hurricanes,
typhoons, and tsunamis.

11. 3. It is considered as a natural water filtration. Particles
found in the ocean are consumed by many individual corals and
sponges. In this way, the clarity and quality of the ocean’s water
are enhanced.
4. Control the level of carbon dioxide in the water. Coral
limestone shell is formed by the ocean’s processing of carbon
dioxide.
5. Serve as an important food source for humans. They
consume edible fishes living in the seas and oceans for protein.

12. The following are some simple and effective actions
everyone can take to help save coral reefs.
1. Be are of the importance of coral reefs.
2. Do not extract coral reefs to be used as building
materials and decorations.
3. Promote banning of dynamite, cyanide fishing, and
muro-ami.
4. Prohibit dumping of waste in coastal waters.
5. Plant more trees to avoid erosion of hills and mountains
so the reefs would not be buried in silt.
6. Discourage people from buying pieces of corals.