Reef Basics
What are the tiny marine animals responsible for building coral reefs?
Coral polyps
Which type of reef develops close to the shoreline?
Fringing Reef
Name one recreational activity supported by coral reefs.
Snorkelling, scuba diving or recreational fishing.
What process occurs when coral loses its colour due to environmental stress?
Coral bleaching.
Name one way citizens can help protect coral reefs.
Beach clean-ups, proper waste disposal or sustainable fishing
What substance makes up the skeletons of coral polyps?
Calcium carbonate.
Which type of reef is separated from land by a lagoon?
Barrier Reef
How do coral reefs help protect coastal communities?
They absorb and disperse wave energy, reducing coastal erosion.
How can coastal construction negatively affect coral reefs?
Sediment runoff can settle on corals, blocking sunlight and interfering with growth.
What is the purpose of a marine protected area?
To restrict certain activities and allow marine ecosystems to recover.
What three things do coral reefs provide to marine organisms?
Habitats, food and breeding grounds.
What type of reef has a ring-shaped formation surrounding a central lagoon?
Atoll reef.
How do coral reefs contribute to the fishing industry?
They provide feeding, breeding and nursery habitats for commercially valuable fish.
What human activity reduces populations of commercially valuable fish?
Overfishing
Name one Jamaican marine protected area.
Montego Bay Marine Park.
What is the first step in the formation of a coral reef?
Coral larvae attach themselves to hard underwater surfaces.
Name two Caribbean countries where patch reefs occur.
The Bahamas and Belize.
Explain how coral reefs contribute to employment in the Caribbean.
Reef tourism creates employment for tour operators, boat operators and dive instructors.
What causes ocean acidification?
The ocean absorbs excess carbon dioxide released through fossil fuel burning and deforestation.
How can hotels and resorts reduce harmful substances entering the sea?
By installing or improving wastewater treatment systems
Explain how coral polyps gradually develop a coral reef.
Coral polyps secrete calcium carbonate skeletons. New coral grows over older skeletons, gradually building the reef.
Explain how an atoll develops as a volcanic island gradually sinks beneath the sea.
The reef continues growing upward as the volcanic island sinks, eventually forming a ring around a central lagoon
Describe two ways coral reefs contribute to the geographical development of coastal areas.
They protect beaches and infrastructure from waves and flooding, and help form and maintain beaches through reef sediments.
Explain how ocean acidification weakens coral reef structures
It makes it harder for corals to build and maintain their calcium carbonate skeletons.
Identify two Jamaican government agencies involved in reef conservation and explain their roles.
NEPA: environmental regulation and natural resource management. National Fisheries Authority: fisheries management.