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 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 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 - National Geographic Society
WEBJul 18, 2024 · 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 habitats in the world.
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.
Corals Tutorial: Why are coral reefs important? - NOAA's National …
WEBHome to over 4,000 species of fish, corals, and other marine life, coral reefs cover only 1% of the world’s oceans, but provide habitat for at least 25% of the world’s marine life, with many reef species still to be discovered. Healthy coral reefs provide food for coastal and inland communities.
Coral reef | Description, Geochemistry, Origins, & Threats
WEB4 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 Ecology & Biodiversity - Coral Reef Alliance
WEBAlthough they cover less than 0.1% of the earth’s surface, coral reefs are the most biodiverse marine ecosystem in the world. Coral reefs are home to: 4,000 species of reef fish. 840 species of corals. Over 1 million species of other animals.
Coral Reefs - NOAA's National Ocean Service
WEBHidden beneath the ocean waters, coral reefs teem with life. Coral 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.
Coral Reefs | Learn Science at Scitable - Nature
WEBCoral reefs can be separated into three distinct zones: the back reef, reef crest, and fore-reef (Figure 7). The back reef includes the shallow lagoon between the shore and coral reef.
Skip to content