THE SECRETS OF CORAL REEFS
Secrets of Coral Reefs explains in simple language the interlocking community of bizarre and beautiful coral reef animals and plants. Although their stony structures seem impervious to harm, coral reefs are actually fragile communities under siege not by natural forces but by humankind. Featuring dozens of full-color photographs by Francois Gohier, Jeff Foott, Howard Hall, Frank Balthis, and others, Secrets of Coral Reefs explores the incredible diversity of reef-dwellers, the differences between Indo-Pacific and Caribbean reefs, and the complex relationships between reef animals and plants. Stressing the importance of this multifaceted world, the book shows young readers the importance of coral reefs, the reefs' chances for survival, and what they can do to help ensure it.
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Coral Reef Secrets:
- At 700 pounds, the tridacna clam is the heavyweight mollusk of the reef.
- Corals, clams, anemones, and other reef creatures carry secret weapons. Inside their bodies grow tiny plants that make sugar from sunshine—and give it to their hosts.
- Seashells from the reef can be deadly as well as pretty. All 500 species of coneshell use their noses as fleshy harpoons to deliver poison.
- The Great Barrier Reef – world's biggest – runs nearly 1,300 miles along the coast of Australia and can be seen from space.
- Loggerhead sponges are huge and empty enough to hold 16,000 shrimp—or two human divers.
- To hide from eels and sharks, the parrotfish uses mucus! At night, the parrotfish rests inside its slimy "sleeping bag."
- Popcorn coral is bright orange, and its pigment acts as sunblock.
- One atoll reef has enough coral in it to build 15,000 pyramids.
- Some reef fishes have startling abilities. The blue tang changes colors three times. Others change from male to female.
- The size of a pea, the coral polyp could not build reefs without the help of its tiny plant friend: an algae called zooxanthellae.
- Coral reefs can be noisy places. Shrimp sound like pistols, damselfish chirp, barnacles click, and groupers boom, using their gill covers.
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To Learn More:
- National Marine Sanctuary system protects 14 areas—nearly half with coral holdings--from the Florida Keys to American Samoa, including the nearly pristine Northwestern Hawaiian Island Coral Reef Ecosystem Reserve. Website: http://www.sanctuaries.noaa.gov
- Another NOAA-related website with much reef info is the Coral Reef Information System (CoRIS) Website: http://coris.noaa.gov
- The Coral Reef Report portal has a rich list of links to many worthy websites, including marine sanctuaries and reserves by name and a dozen photo-filled sites. Website: coralreefreport.info
- International Coral Reef Information Network (ICRIN) and its partner International Coral Reef Action Network (ICRAN), offer masses of clear, current data. Outstanding resources for students, teachers; photobanks, databases, fact sheets, and links aplenty. Websites: www.coralreef.org and www.reefbase.org
- Reef Relief, PO Box 430, Key West FL 33041, an active local organization, has done much to reverse damage, protect coral ecosystems in the keys, and link up with other programs in the Bahamas, Cuba, Honduras, and Jamaica. Their kid-friendly website says "If you're not outraged, you're not paying attention." Website: www.reefrelief.org
- From Australia, the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority and the University of Queensland do accessible, well linked sites. Websites: www.gbrma.gov.au and www.reefedu.au
Space doesn't permit details of all worthy sites on coral reefs. Try this outstanding handful:
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