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. 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 jellyfish.

Often called the “rainforests of the sea,” coral reefs are home to a spectacular variety of organisms.

Some coral reefs are so large they are even visible from outer space! But coral reefs only occupy less than one tenth of one percent of the ocean floor. The National Park Service has ten parks with coral reefs stretching from the Pacific Ocean to the Atlantic Ocean.

What are facts about the coral reef? What is the purpose of coral reefs? Why is coral endangered? There are hundreds of different species of coral, according to CORAL.

Coral have a dazzling array of shapes and colors, from roun folded brain corals (named for their resemblance to a human brain) to tall, elegant sea whips and sea fans that look like intricate, vibrantly colored trees or plants. See full list on livescience. Most of the substantial coral reef s found today are between 0and 10years ol according to CORAL. Nonetheless, they are among the most productive an.

Additionally, coral reefs provide an estimated $billion annually in direct economic benefit to people worldwide though foo fisheries and tourism, according to the Hopkins Marine Station of Stanford University. The increasing acidification of the ocean — caused when oceans absorb immense amounts of carbon dioxide released into the atmosphere through the burning of fo. As with the other coral reefs of the worl this incredible ecological hotspot is under threat. 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 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 are the most diverse of all marine ecosystems. A reef surrounding an islet. Coral Reef is a creative place where students feel safe and are enthusiastic about learning and participating in school activities.

A variety of curricular offerings, theme-based academies, extracurricular activities, and athletic programs provides students with meaningful, well-rounded educational experiences. Fast and Free Shipping On Many Items You Love On eBay. Find Great Deals Now!

Hotel Rates, Specials, Offers. Days Risk-Free, Money Back. Dr Ku’ulei Rodgers, a coral reef ecologist, tells me about how the indigenous relationship with nature is centered in Kumulipo. The story talks about how the first two beings bring forth organisms in the order of importance,” she explains.

The first is the coral polyp, followed by the coral colony, then the marine creatures, then the terrestrials. The Native Hawaiians understood that their connection to the sea was absolutely vital to their lives. Life came from the sea, from coral. One-quarter of all marine life depends on coral reefs for food and shelter.

Healthy coral reefs benefit communities in many ways. People around the world depend on coral reef ecosystems for foo coastal protection, and income from tourism and fisheries. Definition of coral reef. Hidden beneath the ocean waters, coral reefs teem with life. Countless numbers of creatures rely on coral reefs for their survival.

These important habitats are threatened by a range of human activities. Appearing as solitary forms in the fossil record more than 4million years ago, corals are extremely ancient animals that evolved into modern reef -building forms over the last million years. In the wil coral reefs are among the most diverse and valuable ecosystems on Earth.

View more property details, sales history and Zestimate data on Zillow.