Coral reef framework
From BiodivBorneo09
Today we will identify in the field the various important components of the coral reef ecosystem.
Habitat axis
- Mangrove
- Seagrass flats
- (Back reef)
- Reef crest
- Fore reef
- Reef slope
- (Walls)
- (Rubble zone)
Reef types: fringing, barrier, atoll
Taxonomic axis
- Plankton, microalgae, planktonic phase of many taxa
- Higher plants (Angiosperms), seagrasses
- Macroalgae (seaweeds), Halimeda
- Corals (phylum: Cnidaria, class: Anthozoa)
- Crustaceans (phylum: Arthropoda, class: Crustacea)
- Echiniderms (phylum: Echinodermata), starfish, urchins, basketstars/featherstars
- Holothurians (phylum: Echinodermata!), sea cucumbers
- Sponges (phylum: Porifera)
- Molluscs (phylum: Mollusca), gastropods, bivalves and nudibranchs
- Anemones (phylum: Cnidaria, class: Anthozoa)
- Fish
Habitat axis
- Feeding (planktivore, herbivore, piscivore, coralivore…)
- Spatial (land-sea and depth)
- Substrate/structure (in/on, coral, sand, sponges…, pelagic/demersal/benthic)
- Temporal (diurnal, nocturnal)
- Symbionts (cleaners, shrimp-goby, clown fish, sea lice…)
- Disturbance (branching coral vs. boulder coral)
