Coral Reefs
Coral reefs are diverse underwater ecosystems consisting of colorful, calcium carbonate-based structures secreted by living corals and other marine organisms. They serve as home to an incredible array of animals, from microscopic plankton to large predators such as sharks, providing food, shelter, breeding grounds, and protection from ocean currents. These complex environments are teeming with marine life, including sponges, mollusks, crustaceans, echinoderms, fish, and various species of coral themselves, each contributing to the overall health and resilience of the reef system. Coral reefs' intricate structures offer an abundance of hiding spots, crevices, and ledges that foster an incredible biodiversity, making them one of Earth's most vibrant and valuable natural resources.
External Links
- [CoralReefs.org] Home - International Coral Reef Society
- [CoralReefSnorkeling.com]
- [HawkFish.org] Hawkfish.org Coral Reef Aquarium | Saltwater Fish | Hawkfish | Soft Corals | Hard Corals
- [CoralReef.org] Coral Reef Alliance - Saving the Worlds Coral Reefs
- [coralreefbleaching.com] Coralreefbleaching.com - Coral Reef Bleaching
- [pcrf.org] ::Planetary Coral Reef Foundation:: PCRF
- [CoralReef.gov] U.S. Coral Reef Task Force Homepage
- [ReefSafeSunscreen.org] Reef Safe Sunscreen – We are a small group of divers and water lovers passionate about educating about toxic sunscreen and promoting coral reef and ocean conservation!