Coral Reefs: Rainforests Of The Sea

Corals are underwater structures composed of calcium carbonate. Each coral is referred to as a polyp which is primarily responsible for building reefs. The reefs provide a safe haven for almost millions of animals including fish, crabs, shrimp, clams, snails and many more rely on and adapt to the coral reef lifestyle. Each one of them plays a vital role in protecting the health of the reef.

Found in warm, polar, and shallow waters, the corals have a symbiotic relationship with zooxanthellae. Living inside the polyp body provides carbohydrates for the coral where in turn the coral provides home and carbon dioxide for the algae. In addition, the algae remove waste and help corals to provide lively colors and are found in an array of shapes. The Australian barrier reef is the largest coral reef which is more than 1500 miles long.

Different species of coral reefs are found in different ocean basis. Where the reef in Indo-pacific can be completely different from the reef in the tropical western Atlantic ocean. Furthermore, scientists have categorized reefs into four types. Fringing reefs are attached to the shore; barrier reefs are separated from the shore by a lagoon, patch reefs are small reefs found in the shallow lagoons within a large collective reef; atoll is a ring-shaped coral reef that encircles a lagoon partially or completely.

In addition, the coral reefs protect coastlines from storms and erosion, and at least more than half a billion people depend on the reef for food, income, and protection. Healthy and intact coral reefs draw high-value tourism which attracts visitors from remote locations. Unfortunately, the coral reefs are at threat, climate change, ocean acidification, destructive fishing practices, pollution, and invasive species threaten coral reefs around the world. Once the ocean temperatures are raised the zooxanthellae are gone, which leads coral to lose their bright color. This would risk millions of people of life at stake who completely rely on coral reefs.

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