A coral reef is a large underwater structure made of dead and living corals (press to see more). The gradual cementing of the hard skeletons of tiny living organisms called coral polyps over thousands of years result in coral reef formations. Coral reefs are found in more than 100 countries around the world. Oakland, CA 94612 USA | Contact: 1.888.Coral.Reef | info@coral.org | Policies & Disclosures. These structures are created by colonies of coral polyps secreting calcium carbonate. Many grow optimally in water temperatures between 73° and 84° Fahrenheit (23°–29°Celsius), but some can tolerate temperatures … Reef-building corals cannot tolerate water temperatures below 64° Fahrenheit (18° Celsius). That’s why most coral reefs can be found in shallow, clear water along the coast. They provide billions of dollars in economic and environmental services, such as food, coastal protection and tourism. Where are Coral Reefs Located. According to this theory, coral reefs were initially fringing reefs on slanting shores, after which they became barrier reefs when the shores sank, with a water channel between them and the land. These are the homes of approximate 2 million marine species including fishes, turtles, sea horses, lobsters, crabs, shrimps, algae, sharks, urchins, sponges, clams, octopuses, monk seals, and much more. Coral reefs are often referred to as the “rainforests of the ocean”, because they are full of life. Over half a billion people depend on reefs for food, income, and protection. Coral reefs are important spawning grounds of a number of marine fish species. An estimated 4,000 fish species, and some 25 percent of marine life, depend on coral reefs at some point in their existence. 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. The organisms grow and form reefs in oceans around the world. There are many kinds of coral reef formations, which scientists generally split into four groups: atolls, barrier reefs, fringing reefs, and patch reefs. The majority of these islands are volcanic in origin. These are in areas where the depth of water is less than 150-450 feet. © 2020 Coral Reef Alliance | 1330 Broadway, Suite 600 Corals are also found farther from the equator in places where warm currents flow out of the tropics, such as in Florida and southern Japan. One of the reasons that coral reefs are so highly valued is because they serve as a center of activity for marine life. Ocean acidification also degrades the coral reefs. Corals crave the marine conditions found in the warm waters of the tropics and sub-tropics. As a result, they are particularly vulnerable to the effects of human activities, both through direct exploitation of reef resources, and through indirect impacts from adjacent human activities on land and in the coastal zone. They are of three types - Fringing Reefs, Barrier Reefs, and Atolls. Most of them being between the Tropic of Cancer and Tropic of Capricorn. What Are Coral Reefs? The coral animals that build tropical reefs require sunlight found in clear, shallow ocean waters. Coral Reefs are of great significance to humans as these protect coastal settlements from tropical storms by dissipating the wave energy of the sea and minimizing the damage in the coastal areas. As the temperature rises, the bleaching process sets in and eventually, corals starve to death. Coral polyps are classified as anthozoans within the phylum of Cnidaria. Because of strict environmental restrictions, coral reefs generally are confined to tropical and semi-tropical waters. The term ‘coral reef’ is commonly used when referring to large coral structures and the ecosystems that they support. In general, they are located in areas with warm water currents. The sun's intense rays, which can sunburn swimmers and divers that flock to these reefs, cause similar damage to coral and zooxanthellae, the symbiotic algae that lives inside coral. Fish keep the algae that … Coral reefs are ancient and highly adaptable – they first emerged nearly 500 million years ago; those corals went extinct, and the corals that we have now first appeared 240 million years ago. This is because the algae found in their tissues need light for photosynthesis and they prefer water temperatures between 70-85°F (22-29°C). Of these, the Great Barrier Reef is the largest one and is an approximate 2500 km in length. Many small countries are also contributing to coral reef conservation by putting a restriction on fishing. The corals that build reefs are known as “hard” or “reef-building” corals.Soft corals, such as sea fans and sea whips, do not produce reefs; they are flexible organisms that sometimes resemble plants or trees. Corals thrive best in tropical waters where temperatures range from 23 to 29 °C (73 to 84 °F); however, some corals are able to thrive in water temperatures below 18 °C (64 °F), and some have adapted to survive … Not all corals on the reef are stony corals. Corals are also found farther from the equator in places where warm currents flow out of the tropics, such as in Florida and southern Japan. However, coral reefs are not only found in these areas—there are even coral reefs in the deep sea ! Corals are found across the world’s ocean, in both shallow and deep water, but reef-building corals are only found in shallow tropical and subtropical waters. Most coral reefs are found in shallow, tropical or semi-tropical habitats where they enjoy warm waters and ample sunlight year-round. Coral reefs have a biodiversity of even higher than that of a tropical forest. Only about 20% of world reefs seem not to be threatened or destroyed. Corals, and the algae inside their polyps, rely on sunlight to produce the energy needed for them to survive and grow. Most coral reefs are termed “fringe reefs”, as they are found on the fringes of a coastline to a larger landmass. In Australia, there is Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority, and in Japan, there is the Global Coral Reef Conservation Project for the restoration of beautiful coral reefs. Because the global distribution of coral reefs is largely determined by the ecological requirements of the reef-building corals themselves. Excessive fishing, shoreline development, and seawater pollution are some other threats to the same. Most reefs are located between the Tropics of Cancer and Capricorn, in the Pacific Ocean, the Indian Ocean, the Caribbean Sea, the Red Sea, and the Persian Gulf. These are the homes of approximate 2 million marine species including fishes, turtles, sea horses, lobsters, crabs, shrimps, algae, sharks, urchins, sponges, clams, octopuses, monk seals, and much more. The Great Barrier Reef in the Coral Sea near Australia and the New Caledonia Barrier Reef located near New Caledonia in the Pacific Ocean are the notable examples of Coral Reef across the world. They are built from colonial polyps from the phylum Cnidaria which secrete an exoskeleton of calcium carbonate.The reefs are formed in tropical marine areas (30 degrees north and south of the equator) and between the tropics. From the smallest … A study by TNC published in 2019 found that approximately half of all livelihoods in the Caribbean region depended on healthy nearshore and coastal habitats — with coral reefs … Also biological factors can damage reefs. Coral reefs can be found across the world’s oceans in the Sub-Antarctic and tropical waters in depths of up to 3,000m. More carbon dioxide in the ocean water will reduce the ability of corals to build their limestone exteriors, by which they attach themselves to the substrate. coral reefs Healthy coral reefs are one of the most valuable ecosystems on Earth. Scientists are still discovering marine species living on coral reefs. In absence of man reefs are threatened by hurricanes or typhoons and by influx of warmer seawater caused by El Niño. There are approximately 6,000 patch reefs along the reef tract, with 80 percent of these reefs found between northern Elliott Keys and North Key Largo. 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