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A coral reef is an underwater ecosystem characterized by reef-building corals. Reefs are formed of colonies of coral polyps held together by calcium carbonate. Most coral reefs are built from stony corals, whose polyps cluster in groups. Coral belongs to the class Anthozoa in the animal phylum Cnidaria, which includes sea anemones and jellyfish.
Oct 19, 2023 · Coral reefs are important ocean habitats and offer a compelling case of the risks of climate change. Reefs provide a large fraction of Earth’s biodiversity —they have been called “the rain forests of the seas.”. Scientists estimate that 25 percent of all marine species live in and around coral reefs, making them one of the most diverse ...
May 11, 2024 · coral reef, ridge or hummock formed in shallow ocean areas by algae and the calcareous skeletons of certain coelenterates, of which coral polyps are the most important. A coral reef may grow into a permanent coral island. Often called the “rainforests of the sea,” coral reefs are home to a spectacular variety of organisms. Structure
Feb 1, 2019 · Coral reefs are some of the most diverse ecosystems in the world. Coral polyps, the animals primarily responsible for building reefs, can take many forms: large reef building colonies, graceful flowing fans, and even small, solitary organisms.
Oct 19, 2023 · Coral Reef. Ecosystems are sometimes classified into terrestrial, or land-based, and aquatic. This aquatic ecosystem is a coral reef off the shores of Papua New Guinea in the Pacific Ocean. Coral reefs are one of the most diverse and delicate ecosystems on the planet. Photograph by Karen Schofield, MyShot. Powered by. Article. Vocabulary.
Coral reefs are the most diverse of all marine ecosystems. They teem with life, with perhaps one-quarter of all ocean species depending on reefs for food and shelter. This is a remarkable statistic when you consider that reefs cover just a tiny fraction (less than one percent) of the earth’s surface and less than two percent of the ocean bottom.
Apr 14, 2016 · 1. What are coral reefs? 2. Why are coral reefs important? 3. What threatens coral reefs? 4. Coral reef science and conservation. Coral reefs: One of Earth’s most diverse ecosystems. Healthy reefs are valuable to you. Challenges for coral reefs are both local and global. A hands-on approach to reef conservation. Focus areas: Ocean & Coasts.
