Biophysical Interactions on the Reef

Ecosystems At find Reefs are important ecosystems as the are home to an immense measuring of biodiversity and are essential in the cycle of life The Role of the aviation Many take downs are located in the cyclone zone due to the undeniable conditions they require to grow. For as long as reefs have existed they have been do by cyclones and intense storms. The severity of the storms and cyclones is determined by the length and devotion of the storms, which determines how much damage will be inflicted onto the reefs. The cyclones and storms generate large waves and lovesome winds, which do most of the damage to the reefs.The waves have the power to rip isolated soft red chromatic and chip and damage the harder coral. Sometimes cyclones may resoluteness in large amounts of the reefs systems being buried by sediment. Reefs are actually delicate and need very precise conditions to live and grow, the amount of rainfall that is associated with intense low systems can flood the reef with fresh peeing and reduce the salinity levels. During the storms the turbidly of the water system also increases so the sunlight cannot concern the coral reducing its ability to produce food.Tropical cyclone Larry (2006) showed that reefs could benefit from storms. The waves that were produced by Larry removed(p) sediment that had accumulated and reduce the water temperature to the ideal level. The Role of the lithosphere The role of the lithosphere in forming and transforming the reef ecosystem is very important. The reefs build themselves, this workings because when the coral dies it produces limestone which the new coral grows on. The limestone is also weathered down and distribute to other parts of the ecosystem to create a range of other landforms.Through the yield of limestone coral reefs are able to withstand the erosive power of waves. overtime individual corals will of course die but this will earmark the growth of new coral on the stable limestone structure s the leave behind. fix is also an important influence on the reef. Sediment much(prenominal) as sand and mud can cloud the water creating gamey turbidity. superior levels of turbidity can reduce the suns ability to penetrate the water and frankincense effecting zooxanthellaes photosynthesis. Coral reefs may also be smothered by sediment especially were the possibility of high runoff is likely.This is why in monsoonal areas and areas with high precipitation levels there are not many fringing reefs as they would struggle to cope with the change in salinity levels from the fresh water and the sediment increasing the turbidity levels. The Role of the Hydrosphere Coral reefs grow surmount in high wave energy areas. Reefs are very good at interfering with wave energy. The structure of the reef is such that the seaward part of the reef absorbs much of the energy leaving an area of steady down water behind it.The amount of water that flows across the reefs is so wide that it is mea sured in cubic kilometres. The flow of the currents is very important to the reef ecosystem. When the currents flow in a direction that they bring warm waters, high saline levels and high levels of nutrition that is a huge contributor to the biodiversity that makes the reefs so important and unique. The Role of the Biosphere There are more then 330 species of coral that can be found in any one reef. The coral is a maintenance animal called Polyps.Polyps are primitive organisms that consist of lower-ranking more then a digestive sac and an out material body do from limestone. The Polyps feed by pulling food into its mouth by tentacles. Within the polyps lives an alga called zooxanthellae, the algae produces sugars and oxygen through photosynthesis. The polyps provide hold dear for the algae and in return receive nutrients and the alga is also what gives the coral the distinct colours. Each coral reef begins as a adept polyp, which reproduces itself to create a colony.Apart fro m coral reefs are highly diverse systems made up of thousands of species. The amount of nutrients created by the plants and algae on the reef is some(prenominal) times that made in the open ocean. Because of the high levels of nutrients available on the reef there are thousands of fish species that feed on the nutrients produced and still the coral. Due to the abundance of fish some top order predators such as sharks and dolphins come to the reef. There are many different species living on reefs that work to keep the balance of life on the reef.