Coral reefs are diverse underwater ecosystems held together by calcium carbonate structures secreted by corals. Coral reefs are built by colonies of tiny animals found in marine waters that contain few nutrients. Most coral reefs are built from stony corals, which in turn consist of polyps that cluster in groups. The polyps belong to a group of animals known as Cnidaria, which also includes sea anemones and jellyfish. Unlike sea anemones, corals secrete hard carbonate exoskeletons which support and protect the coral polyps. Most reefs grow best in warm, shallow, clear, sunny and agitated waters.
Often called "rainforests of the sea", shallow coral reefs form some of the most diverse ecosystems on Earth. They occupy less than 0.1% of the world's ocean surface, about half the area of France, yet they provide a home for at least 25% of all marine species, including fish, mollusks, worms, crustaceans, echinoderms, sponges, tunicates and other cnidarians. Paradoxically, coral reefs flourish even though they are surrounded by ocean waters that provide few nutrients. They are most commonly found at shallow depths in tropical waters, but deep water and cold water corals also exist on smaller scales in other areas.
Coral reefs deliver ecosystem services to tourism, fisheries and shoreline protection. The annual global economic value of coral reefs is estimated between US$29.8-375 billion. However, coral reefs are fragile ecosystems, partly because they are very sensitive to water temperature. They are under threat from climate change, oceanic acidification, blast fishing, cyanide fishing for aquarium fish, sunscreen use, overuse of reef resources, and harmful land-use practices, including urban and agricultural runoff and water pollution, which can harm reefs by encouraging excess algal growth.
Explanation from: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coral_reef
Our Underwater Rainforest
ReplyDeleteMy beautiful Australia's 🌏 Majestic living Coral Reef 🌊 off Queensland, hopefully will retain it's beauty, Esoteric Mysteries of marine plant life 🌿 and creatures of all shapes sizes 🐙🐚🐢 within the sea. With the help of the Fisheries Department,🐟🐡🐠 Non for Profit Organisations and all we Australians including 👪👫👬👭⛺👙👜 tourists who visit our country, immigrants and those who now are calling Australia their new home to assist in keeping it clean. Plus large companies and businesses 💂👲👱👳💃 by NOT to pollute our coastline nor destroy it by not flushing chemicals into the sea, bleaching the coral and killing marine species.🐳🐌🐋🐍🐟 plant life🌱🍁🍃🍁🍀 By NOT walking on the coral, by NOT physically breaking off the coral, by not dredging the ocean floor with netting, etc. We all can make a contribution and obligation in helping these Organisations💰💵 that help protect and clean up our vast beaches, coastlines an surrounding ocean.🌊 Not only Queensland,but it uncludes New South Wales, Canberra, Victoria, Northern Territory,🌇🌆🌃Western Australia, South Australia, Tasmanian coastlines, beaches. Let's all make it a much more better place with what's happening, it's DISTURBING the natural balance of the environment, flora, fauna 🌲🌻🌴🌼🌵🍂💐creatures of both land and sea.🐬🐙🐥🐦