Coral reefs are arguably the world's most beautiful habitats. Coral reefs have been called the rainforests of the oceans, because of the rich diversity of life they support. Scientists have not yet finished counting the thousands of different species of plants and animals that use or live in the coral reef. There are three types of coral reefs: fringing reefs, barrier reefs, and atolls. Fringing reefs are located close to shore, separated from land by only shallow water. Barrier reefs lie farther offshore, separated from land by lagoons more than ten meters deep. Atolls, on the other hand, are formed far offshore and they make a ring-shaped reef that close a circular lagoon. Coral reefs are the largest biological structures on the planet, with the largest being the Great Barrier Reef covering over 2000 kilometers along the east coast of Australia (Focus, 1995). The reef is said to be 500,000 to 2,500,000 years old and is said to be visible from the moon.(Scientif! ic, 1987). There is only one problem with this beautiful structure and that is the carelessness of man. Silt from deforested lands and pollution from crowded coastlines choke them, and overuse by coal miners, fisheries, and even tourists deplete and destroy coral reefs. There are many more factors which add to the destruction of the coral reefs, which if not stopped it will destroy all coral reefs. Corals are animals, not plants, sunlight is the key to their survival. They need it to power the millions of microscopic algae, called zooxanthellae, that live in their tissues. The algae provides the corals with food and oxygen in return for raw materials and a secure place to live. This teamwork is what allows the reef to survive in nutrient-poor tropical seas. This relationship is sensitive to such changes in the environment as cloudy waters or extreme temperatures. The stress on the corals can cause them to expel their algae, a phenomenon known as bleaching(Futurists, 1993).
Coral Reef Coral Reefs are the one of the most diverse and beautiful underwater communities. ... So what are coral reefs? ... The third type of coral reefs are atolls. ... A variety of animals live in coral reefs. ... Corals and coral reefs are extremely sensitive. ...
Coral reefs are arguably the world s most beautiful habitats. ... There are three types of coral reefs: fringing reefs, barrier reefs, and atolls. ... There are many more factors which add to the destruction of the coral reefs, which if not stopped it will destroy all coral reefs. ... Died corals lead further on to the death of the reef. ... There have been many studies on how long the coral reefs will last, and they all agree that within fifty years, coral reefs existence will be cut in half . ...
Coral reefs are arguably the world's most beautiful habitats. ... There are three types of coral reefs: fringing reefs, barrier reefs, and atolls. ... There are many more factors which add to the destruction of the coral reefs, which if not stopped it will destroy all coral reefs. ... Dead corals lead further on to the death of the reef. ... One of the biggest threats to coral reefs is tourists. ...
Coral Reefs Coral reefs are arguably the world's most beautiful habitats. ... Coral reefs are continuously being both built up and decomposed, so different parts of a reef are in varying stages of succession. Coral reefs are very fragile, because reef-building organisms cannot thrive if the surrounding water changes significantly. ... Few long-term studies of coral reefs have been conducted, and there is considerable debate about the overall health of reef ecosystems. ... Sediments can smother or scour the reef, impairing coral growth. ...
Coral reefs even help reduce global warming by taking carbon dioxide out of the air. Coral reefs provide a house for many species. ... There is evidence that suggests coral reefs could potentially provide important medicines, including anti-cancer drugs and a compound that blocks out UV rays. ... Organisms in coral reefs could possibly, make a cure for cancer! ... The author's purpose of this article was to explain the uses that coral reefs provide us, and why we should help protect them for years to come. ...
Coral reefs are living organisms that live and thrive in our world's oceans. ... Coral reefs are more than just another creature in the ocean. ... When boaters come too close to shore where coral reef systems exist, the propeller can strike the corals and break through them. ... Another reason why coral reefs are dying is due to coral bleaching. ... Coral reef systems are the "rain forest" of the ocean. ...
These reefs provide a house for many species. If the coral reefs were to become extinct than future generations would not have the benefits that theses animals have to offer, such as possible medicines, pest control, and carbon dioxide control. ... Right now we are doing restructuring procedures and learning that bone tissue and blood vessels spread into the coral graft and eventually bone replaces most of the coral implant. ... There is evidence that suggests coral reefs could potentially provide important medicines, including anti-cancer drugs and a compound that blocks out UV rays. ... In c...
This is a paper about Coral reefs and remote sensing. First, I will give some background information on coral reefs. ... Coral reef color essentially refers to digital remote sensing of coral reefs. ... Coral reefs are some of the oldest ecosystems on earth. ... These corals provide the reef foundations that is home to millions of reef species. ...
Coral reefs are arguably the world's most beautiful habitats. ... (Encarta, 2002) The richest regions of the world's coral reefs are the South-East Asian seas and Indian Ocean; both combined account for over half of the world's coral reefs with the coral reefs in South-East Asia constitute 30% of the world's coral reefs (Lin,S.H, 2000). Coral reefs are generally classified into three types: barrier reefs, fringing reefs, and atolls. ... Hence, the coral reefs need to generate new cells for reef-building. ... Therefore effective reef management is crucial to conserving t...
