Location
The coral reef biome is a very delicate environment. A biome is defined as a complex biotic community characterized by distinctive plant and animal species and a specific climate. Coral reefs flourish in shallow areas (less than 120ft, or 37m) in tropical latitudes, or where warm ocean currents flow into more temperate areas. In deeper waters, not enough light penetrates the depths, which means the reef's main food producers, algae and plankton, cannot photosynthesize. The Great Barrier Reef, located off the coast of Australia in the Coral Sea, is the largest coral reef ecosystem in the world. It is approximately 348,700 square kilometres in area and appproximately 2,300 kilometres long, running from just north of Bundaberg to the tip of the Cape York Peninsula. Because of the low availability of sunlight, coral reefs are structured to maximize the use of sunlight and raw materials. In coral reefs, food is made quickly and eaten quickly. Coral reefs are very energy efficient and have high relative productivity.