Coral Reef: Define

Coral reef
INTRODUCTION:
DEFINE: a tiny soft-bodied animal that typically lives within a stony
skeleton grouped in large colonies and that is related to the jellyfish is known
as a coral.
Coral Reef: 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.
Types:
Fringing: Fringing reefs are the most common type of coral reef. They
grow seaward near coastlines of islands and continents, usually separated
from the shore by no more than a shallow lagoon. These reefs consist of
two parts: the reef flat (closest to shore) and the reef slope (facing the
open ocean). The largest fringing reef in the world is the Ningaloo Reef
along the western coast of Australia. Spanning more than 160 miles, the
Ningaloo Reef support an exceptional diversity of marine species.
Atoll: Atolls are rings of reefs located in the open ocean. They form
when fringing reefs grow around volcanic islands that eventually sink into
the ocean. Atolls usually takes a horse-shoe shape and a lagoon is always
found in the middle of one. The northern-most coral atoll in the world
is Kure Atoll which lies within Papahānaumokuākea Marine National
Monument. Kure is an important nesting area for many seabird species,
wintering area for a variety of migratory bird species, and an important
pupping and resting area for Hawaiian Monk seals. Another famous atoll is
the Rose Atoll which remains one of the most pristine atolls in the world.
In 2012, Rose Atoll Marine National Monument was incorporated as part
of the National Marine Sanctuary of American Samoa during its
expansion.
Barrier: Barrier reefs are similar to fringing reefs in that they are

found near shore. What makes barrier reefs different is the fact that
they are separate from land. Instead, they are separated by a deep-
water lagoon that forms between the reef and the shore. Their name
comes from the fact that they form a barrier between the coast and the
open ocean. The most famous barrier reef is the Great Barrier Reef, a
chain of smaller barrier reefs off the coast of Australia. In North
America, there is only one coral barrier reef and it is protected
by Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary.
World Distribution
Global Distribution of Coral Reefs
The vast majority of large reefs created by corals in shallow, sunlit
waters (< 50 m water depth) are located within a tropical zone
located between 30º N and 30º S latitude with a preferred
temperature range of approximately 22º to 29º C. Corals also grow
best in areas with little suspended sediment in the water, so large
coral reefs systems are not common to locations where there is a
large input of sediment to the coastal zone by river systems.
Although there are cold, deep water types of coral present in the
ocean basins, they do not create large nearshore reef structures
that affect adjacent coast
Benefits
Coral reefs protect coastlines from storms and erosion, provide jobs
for local communities, and offer opportunities for recreation. They
are also are a source of food and new medicines. Over half a billion
people depend on reefs for food, income, and protection. Fishing,
diving, and snorkelling on and near reefs add hundreds of millions of
dollars to local businesses. These ecosystems are culturally
important to indigenous people around the world.
Threats- coral bleaching

When corals are stressed by changes in conditions such as
temperature, light, or nutrients, they expel the symbiotic algae
(zooxanthellae) living in their tissues, causing them to
turn completely white. This process is known as Coral Bleaching.
CONSERVATION:
Coral reefs provide an important ecosystem for life underwater,

protect coastal areas by reducing the power of waves hitting the coast,
and provide a crucial source of income for millions of people. Coral
reefs have an estimated global value of £6 trillion each year, due in
part to their contribution to fishing and tourism industries and the
coastal protection they provide.

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Coral Reef: Define

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Coral reef

Coral Reef: A coral reef is an underwater ecosystem characterized by reef-

Barrier: Barrier reefs are similar to fringing reefs in that they are

Threats- coral bleaching

Coral reefs provide an important ecosystem for life underwater,

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