How have plants and animals adapted to the coral reef environment?

How have plants and animals adapted to the coral reef environment?

Plant Adaptations Plants have also created many symbiotic relationships with other animals in order to survive. When the sea grass dies it helps to create future plant growth. -Mangroves grow behind the coral reefs. They grow above the sea water, and their roots protect from the sediment overpowering the coral.

What are some of the animals that live in the ecosystems of the Great Barrier Reef?

Animals

• Manta Ray. With the largest brain to body ratio of any living fish, these gentle giants are under threat.
• Green Turtle. As the only species in the genus Chelonia, the Green Turtle is a rare icon of the Great Barrier Reef.
• Dugong.
• Whale Shark.
• Clownfish.
• Mantis Shrimp.
• Humpback Whale.
• Giant Triton.

Do crocodiles live in the Great Barrier Reef?

Saltwater crocodiles are typically found in the murky waterways, rivers, lakes, and swamps in the Northern region of Australia. However, on occasion, they can be found in the ocean region, with the beaches and islands in the Great Barrier Reef known to have an occasional croc sighting.

How many sea creatures live in the Great Barrier Reef?

The Great Barrier Reef is home to more than 1,500 species of fish, 411 types of hard coral, one-third of the world’s soft corals, 134 species of sharks and rays, six of the world’s seven species of threatened marine turtles, and more than 30 species of marine mammals, including the vulnerable dugong.

Is Coral an animal?

Corals are animals And unlike plants, corals do not make their own food. Corals are in fact animals. The branch or mound that we often call “a coral” is actually made up of thousands of tiny animals called polyps.

What animals rely on coral reefs?

Coral reefs support some of the most biodiverse ecosystems on the planet. Thousands of marine animals depend on coral reefs for survival, including some species of sea turtles, fish, crabs, shrimp, jellyfish, sea birds, starfish, and more. Coral reefs provide shelter, spawning grounds, and protection from predators.