Transcript Important Symbiotic Relationships

Haley Sullivan, Mathilde Perez-Huet
Plasmodium
 Protists: apicomplexans
 Parasitic
 Release sporozoites into hosts
 Complex life cycles
www.youtube.com/watch?v=OEDhe4MPEMc
Life Cycle
Coral Reef Relationships
 Polyps
 Algae
 Zooxanthellae
 Great Barrier Reef
 Accumulating pollution
 Stress
Polyps
 Coral reefs are found in shallow costal zones of warm
tropical oceans
 Formed by massive colonies of POLYPS
 POLYPS secrete a protective crust of limestone
(calcium carbonate) around their soft bodies. When
they die, they leave behind their skeletons for animal
usage.
Algae and Zooanthellae
 Coral reefs are formed by a relationship between
POLYPS and tiny single celled ALGAE called
ZOOANTHELLAE.
 ZOOANTHELLAE live inside the tissues of the
POLYPS.
 ZOOANTHELLAE provide the POLYPS with color,
food, and oxygen. In return the POLYPS provide a
home for the ALGAE.
Great Barrier Reef
 Coral reefs provide :
 1) Remove CO2 in the atmosphere
 2) Act as a natural barrier
 3) Give habitats for marine species
 4) Provided tourism and fishing
Accumulating pollution and Stress
 60% of coral reefs are threatened by coastal
development,over fishing, ACCUMULATING
POLLUTION, and warmer temperatures.
 Coral bleaching- coral becomes STRESSED and expels its
ALGAE.
 This happens due to rising water temperature and runoff
prevents photosynthesis. Unless the STRESS is removed,
the ALGAE dies and the coral is unable to grow or repair
itself. Takes up to a 1000 years to recover.