Question

1. how do predators like sharks help keep coral reefs in balance? describe all of the species involved in your answer
2. how does sea temperature rising just a degree or two affect coral reefs? why does this happen?

Explanation:

Question 3

Sharks are top predators in coral reef ecosystems. They control the population of mid - level predators (like groupers, snappers) by preying on them. Mid - level predators feed on herbivorous fish (such as parrotfish, surgeonfish). Herbivorous fish eat algae that can overgrow on corals. If sharks are present, mid - level predator populations are kept in check. This allows herbivorous fish populations to be stable enough to graze on algae, preventing algae from smothering corals and outcompeting them for space and resources. The species involved are: top predator (sharks), mid - level predators (e.g., groupers, snappers), herbivorous fish (e.g., parrotfish, surgeonfish), and corals (along with the algae that grow on or near them).

Coral reefs are home to symbiotic algae called zooxanthellae that live within coral polyps. Corals provide a protected environment and nutrients for the zooxanthellae, and the zooxanthellae provide corals with energy - rich compounds (like glucose) through photosynthesis. Corals have a narrow temperature tolerance range. When sea temperature rises by 1 - 2 degrees Celsius, the coral - zooxanthellae symbiosis is disrupted. The corals become stressed and expel the zooxanthellae, a process known as coral bleaching. Since the zooxanthellae give corals their color and a large portion of their energy, without them, corals lose their color (appear bleached) and their main energy source. If the stress (high temperature) persists, the corals can die. This happens because the increased temperature affects the enzymes and metabolic processes of both the corals and the zooxanthellae, making the symbiosis unsustainable.

Answer:

Predators like sharks help keep coral reefs in balance by controlling mid - level predator populations. Mid - level predators (e.g., groupers, snappers) feed on herbivorous fish (e.g., parrotfish, surgeonfish) that graze on algae. Sharks preying on mid - level predators keeps their numbers in check, allowing herbivorous fish to control algae growth. Algae can smother corals if unchecked, so this predatory cascade (sharks→mid - level predators→herbivorous fish→algae→corals) maintains coral reef health. Species involved: sharks (top predator), mid - level predators (e.g., groupers, snappers), herbivorous fish (e.g., parrotfish, surgeonfish), corals, and algae.

Question 4