The Importance of Coral Reefs

Coral reefs usually can be found in the shallow coastal zones of warm tropical and subtropical oceans. These beautiful natural structures have withstood the test of time and currently house the world's oldest, most diverse, and most productive ecosystems. Coral reefs are formed by innumerous numbers of tiny animals named polyps. They build the coral reef by slowly secreting layers of limestone around their bodies. Since polyps have soft bodies, the hard calcium carbonate shell protects them.
After a polyp has died, the shell still remains and becomes a platform for more coral growth. The result is the elaborate coral reefs that we see today. The polyps are a foundation species that provides homes to many of the diverse aquatic life that live in the reefs. Polyps also have a mutuality relationship with a certain species of bacteria called zooxanthellae. The bacteria provide the polyps with food and oxygen through photosynthesis and the polyps in turn provide a well protected home for the bacteria. This mutuality relationship provides a benefit to both species.
Coral reefs also provide a number of other indispensable ecosystem services. When polyps form their limestone shells, they use up the carbon dioxide and therefore remove the carbon from the cycle. This slows down the progression of global warming. Also, coral reefs protect the shores from being eroded away by the waves. They are also home to about one fourth of all the identified marine species and at least two thirds of all fish species.
However, coral reefs are facing a large crisis right now. More than a fourth of the world's coral reefs have been destroyed due to coastal development, pollution, overfishing, and fishing ocean temperatures due to a variety of factors. These problems have been magnified in the last few years. Another problem that coral polyps face is called coral bleaching. When the temperature rises enough, the algae will leave the coral and leave it unable to photosynthesize or repair themselves. Without the algae, the coral will die.
Scientists value coral reefs very highly as they are a great indicator to the overall health of aquatic ecosystems. The loss of the all important coral reef could be a devastating blow to the diversity and richness of life around the world.