Are there coral reefs in Guam?

The waters of Guam are home to 5,000 species of marine organisms, many of which rely on healthy coral reefs for survival. In Guam’s nearshore waters, the combined area of coral reef and lagoon is approximately 26 square miles—nearly 13,000 American football fields.

What kind of reef does Guam have?

The island possesses fringing reefs, patch reefs, submerged reefs, offshore banks, and a barrier reef surrounding the southern shores. The reef margin varies in width, from tens of meters along some of the windward areas, to well over 100 meters.

Why are corals important on Guam?

Shoreline Protection The coral reefs found in the nearshore areas and lagoons of Guam provide many benefits to the island’s shorelines. Coral reefs form a natural breakwater, protecting the shoreline by absorbing and reducing wave energy by 97% on average (Ferrario et al. 2014).

Is Guam the largest island?

At 13 degrees north latitude and 144 degrees east longitude, the island of Guam is the largest in size (214 square miles), the most populated, and the southernmost of the 15 Mariana Islands in the western Pacific Ocean.

What island is the closest to Guam?

The Northern Marianas extend for about 450 miles (725 km) north of Guam. The more important islands of the commonwealth are Saipan, Tinian, Agrihan, and Rota. The Mariana Islands have several active volcanoes, including Mount Pagan, Asuncion, and Farallon de Pajaros.

What are three facts about coral?

9 Fun Facts About Corals

• Corals come in a wide array of shapes, sizes, and colours.
• Home to almost 25% of known marine species.
• Corals are animals, not plants.
• Coral reefs grow very slowly, at an average rate of just two centimetres per year.
• Corals outlived dinosaurs.

What are the main features of a coral reef ecosystem?

Shallow water, reef-building corals have a symbiotic relationship with photosynthetic algae called zooxanthellae, which live in their tissues. The coral provides a protected environment and the compounds zooxanthellae need for photosynthesis.

Is Guam a volcano?

Guam is a large volcanic base which has been repeatedly elevated, on which coral limestone has repeatedly formed. The entire northern half is a shelving, more or less flat, plateau of metamorphosed coral limestone, a terrace atop a submerged volcanic base.