Coral reefs of Tuvalu

High school (ages 12+)
Environment & Earth

Name:

Date:

Step 1 · Read the article

Open the article and read it at the level above. Then answer the questions below in your own words.

https://smallwhale.org/articles/coral-reefs-of-tuvalu

Write what each word means, using the article.

Do not copy the article. Write two things you learned, the way you would explain them to a friend.

Answers below are taken from the article’s stored facts, so they match what the student read.

1. What is the scientific name of reef-building corals?Order Scleractinia (stony corals)
2. What is the primary anthropogenic stressors?Climate change (ocean warming, acidification), pollution, sedimentation, and overfishing
3. What are Tuvalu's underwater cities made of?They are built by tiny hard‑shelled corals called scleractinian corals, which grow into colorful reefs.
4. Why are the reefs important for the people of Tuvalu?The reefs protect the islands from waves, give fish for food, and can help bring visitors to see the beautiful underwater world.

Scleractinia: The order of stony corals, characterized by their hard calcium carbonate skeletons that form the framework of reefs.
Zooxanthellae: Symbiotic algae that live within coral tissues, providing them with energy through photosynthesis and contributing to their color.
Ocean Acidification: A decrease in the pH of seawater caused by the absorption of atmospheric carbon dioxide, impairing calcification in marine organisms.
Marine Protected Areas (MPAs): Designated zones of the ocean where human activities are restricted to protect marine ecosystems and biodiversity.