Learn more - Coral Reefs

Red Sea Coral Reefs The habitat 1. Name and locate your threatened habitat Red Sea Coral Reef is located in Red Sea near Israel, Egypt and Djibouti. . 2. Investigate the threatened habitat and describe the spatial and ecological dimensions Red Sea fringing reef platforms are over 5000 years old, and the entire coastal reef complex extends along some 2,000 km of shoreline. 3. Describe fauna and flora in the area. What are the features of these plants and animals? Over one thousand species of fish and a high diversity of corals live in crystal clear waters with tropical temperatures. FaunaThe clown triggerfish is a member of the trigger family. The Sharpnosed puffer fish belong to the family of inflatable fish. The hawksbill turtle gets its name because of its beak. It is similar to a hawk’s beak. FloraBrown algae can be found in coral reefs. They are often known as seaweed and kelp Mangroves are forests of tropical trees and shrubs rooted in saltwater sediments a) Are these species endemic to the area? Yes they rely on the coral reef to fend themselves b) How have they adapted to their region/environment. The coral reef environment has a physical structure that is radically different than that of the surrounding open ocean. Fishes that live in reef habitats have therefore evolved a host of specialized traits well suited to their colourful and complex homes

Conservation 4. What has caused this habitat to become threatened? Threats to the reef are caused by humans and the earth by destructive fishing practises, overfishing, careless tourism, pollution, sedimentation, coral mining and climate change.

5. What is being done to protect this habitat? A growing number of marine numbers of protected areas (MPAs) have been established in the Red Sea to help alleviate some of these problems. Ras Mohammed National Park was established by Egypt in 1983 and includes miles of healthy fringing reefs. The Red Sea Marine Peace Park in the Gulf of Aqaba was founded in 1994 by the governments of Jordan and Israel to preserve and protect the area's coral reefs. 6. Outline the perspectives of people involved in the issue, e.g, local residents, property developers, environmental/animal welfare organisations. A group of marine biologists have quoted that they should protect the reef now so that in the future generations can also use the reef and keep it sustainable. 7. Find examples of individual, group or government action that has been taken to address the issues in this habitat? The Red Sea Marine Peace Park and Mohammed National Park have made a great difference.