Limiting Factors
Factors such as temperature, water salinity, amount of light, nutrient levels, and saturation state are all environmental conditions that can suppress the growth of aquatic organisms, in this case coral.
These factors are density independent for the most part. That is, regardless of the population size of the organisms in the marine biome, factors such as temperature and salinity will keep certain organisms from growing in an area. The thermocline is a layer of water where temperature changes more quickly, and many organisms rare unable to survive past one. The amount of salt in the water can also have an effect, and light and nutrients play a major role in the growth of aquatic plant life. An adequate amount of oxygen and nitrogen must be dissolved in the water for organisms to grow.
However, certain factors are density dependent as well. In marine locations with a high population density, there is more debris and sediment that clouds the water. This effectively blocks sunlight enough to reduce the amount of photosynthesis that can occur, and the plant life in general. The organisms that depend on these plants for food are also affected in turn and the cycle continues.
These factors are density independent for the most part. That is, regardless of the population size of the organisms in the marine biome, factors such as temperature and salinity will keep certain organisms from growing in an area. The thermocline is a layer of water where temperature changes more quickly, and many organisms rare unable to survive past one. The amount of salt in the water can also have an effect, and light and nutrients play a major role in the growth of aquatic plant life. An adequate amount of oxygen and nitrogen must be dissolved in the water for organisms to grow.
However, certain factors are density dependent as well. In marine locations with a high population density, there is more debris and sediment that clouds the water. This effectively blocks sunlight enough to reduce the amount of photosynthesis that can occur, and the plant life in general. The organisms that depend on these plants for food are also affected in turn and the cycle continues.