Coral reef - Wikipedia
WEBt. e. 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. [1] Most coral reefs are built from stony corals, whose polyps cluster in groups.
Coral Reefs - National Geographic Society
WEBOct 19, 2023 · Coral reefs are important oceanhabitats 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 ...
Coral reef | Description, Geochemistry, Origins, & Threats
WEB6 days ago · Coral reef, ridge or hummock formed in shallow ocean areas by algae and the calcareous skeletons of coral polyps and other coelenterates. A coral reef may grow into a permanent coral island. Often called ‘rainforests of the sea,’ coral reefs are home to a spectacular variety of organisms.
Coral reef ecosystems - National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
WEBFeb 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.
Coral Reefs and Corals | Smithsonian Ocean
WEBCoral 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.
Coral - National Geographic Society
WEBOct 19, 2023 · Coral reefs not only provide marine species with a rich habitat, but they also assist people as well. Millions of people around the world rely on fish caught in and around coral reefs. The reefs also draw in tourists, which helps the local economies. Coral reefs protect people and land from storms as well, serving as a barrier that reduces the ...
Coral Reefs Ecology & Biodiversity - Coral Reef Alliance
WEBOver 1 million species of other animals. Why are coral reefs so important? 275 million people live within 19 miles (30km) of coral reefs. Over 100 countries benefit from the recreational value of coral reefs. 350 million people travel to coral reefs each year. Coral reefs are at the center of many coastal and island cultures around the world.
NOAA CoRIS - What are Coral Reefs
WEB3 days ago · What are Coral Reefs. Appearing as solitary forms in the fossil record more than 400 million years ago, corals are extremely ancient animals that evolved into modern reef-building forms over the last 25 million years. Coral reefs are unique (e.g., the largest structures on earth of biological origin) and complex systems.
Scientists are trying to save coral reefs. Here's what's working.
WEBJune 04, 2020. • 9 min read. The world’s coral reefs do more for the planet than provide underwater beauty. They buffer shorelines from the effects of hurricanes. An estimated 500 million...
Coral Reefs - NOAA's National Ocean Service
WEBCoral reefs support more species than any other marine environment and rival rainforests in their biodiversity. Countless numbers of creatures rely on coral reefs for their survival. An official website of the United States government.
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