Coral reef - Wikipedia
WEBA 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 belongs to the class Anthozoa in the animal phylum Cnidaria, which includes sea anemones and ...
Coral Reefs - National Geographic Society
WEBJul 18, 2024 · 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 rainforests 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 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 reef | Description, Geochemistry, Origins, & Threats
WEB2 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 Reefs and Corals - Smithsonian Ocean
WEBReefs form when corals grow in shallow water close to the shore of continents or smaller islands. The majority of coral reefs are called fringe reefs because they fringe the coastline of a nearby landmass. But when a coral reef grows around a volcanic island something interesting occurs.
Coral Reefs | Learn Science at Scitable - Nature
WEBCoral reefs are one of the most diverse ecosystems on the planet. What are the abiotic and biotic interactions that structure this diverse ecosystem?
Basic Information about Coral Reefs | US EPA - U.S.
WEBFeb 28, 2024 · Coral reefs provide habitat for a large variety of marine life, including various sponges, oysters, clams, crabs, sea stars, sea urchins, and many species of fish. Coral reefs are also linked ecologically to nearby seagrass, mangrove, and mudflat communities.
As coral reefs face unprecedented heat, scientists pioneer new …
WEB13 hours ago · As coral reefs face unprecedented heat, scientists experiment with new ways to protect them. In Puerto Rico and other hard-hit places, marine researchers are trying to restore reefs and make ...
Coral Reefs: Canaries of the Sea, Rainforests of the Oceans
WEBCoral reefs are very much the rainforests of the oceans. Not only are they diverse communities, but the coral skeletons - like trees - contain potentially long term records of climate.
Coral Reefs - UNEP - UN Environment Programme
WEBCoral reefs are the most biodiverse ecosystem in our ocean. They occur in more than 100 countries and territories, and whilst they cover less than 1 per cent of the seafloor, they support at least 25 per cent of marine species – harbouring the highest biodiversity of any ecosystem globally and making them one of the most valuable ecosystems ...
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