Great Barrier Reef – Virtual Feld Trip

#ecosystems Coral Reef Ecosystems The ocean is a large body of salt water that covers more than 70 percent of the Earth’s surface and gives the Earth its deep blue color. Within the ocean are a range of different ecosystems. The average depth of the ocean is over 3.5 kilometers. Most organisms can be found at depths of less than 100 meters. At this depth, sunlight can reach plants like seagrasses so they can photosynthesize. The most diverse ecosystems in the ocean are coral reefs. Corals are small animals that stay in one place throughout their adult lives. They usually live together in groups called colonies. The colonies form large reefs. Coral reefs provide many places for animals to seek shelter and find food. They are home to a great variety of fish, from tiny anemone fish to giant reef sharks and rays. There are lobsters, clams and jellyfish. There are marine reptiles like sea turtles and sea snakes. Some animals in coral reef ecosystems have venom to kill prey. The blue-ringed octopus is less than 20 centimeters in length, but contains enough venom to kill 25 adults. The blue rings on its body glow brightly before it bites and injects venom into its prey. The Great Barrier Reef is the world&largest coral reef system composed of over 2,900 individual reefs and 900 islands stretching for over 2,300 kilometres (1,400 mi) over an area of approximately 344,400 square kilometres (133,000 sq mi). The reef is located in the Coral Sea, off the coast of Queensland...