... and there is considerable debate about the overall health of reef ecosystems. Still, most scientists agree that reefs worldwide are in crisis. Caribbean reefs appear to be in worse condition than Pacific reefs. They naturally have lower levels of bio-diversity, which makes them more ... was infecting coral reefs miles offshore. Scientists then began wondering why the same diseases infected coral reefs in remote areas of the Caribbean. They now suspect that red, iron-rich African dust borne by transatlantic trade winds are carrying bacterial spores to reefs, and ... not be able to recover ...

• Word Count: 2829
• Approx Pages: 11
• Grade Level: High School

... The largest reefs are found in the warmer portions of the Pacific and Indian oceans. But they are also found in the Caribbean and in the Gulf of Mexico as far north as southern Florida. Reefs are made up of many different species of corals. ... animals inhabit reefs. Sponges provide shelter for fishes, shrimp, crabs and other small animals. They appear in many shapes and colors. Sea anemones are close relatives of corals. Indo- Pacific reef anemones are know for their symbiotic relationships with clownfish and anemone fishes. Their ... . Shrimps, crabs, lobsters, and other crustations...

• Word Count: 1410
• Approx Pages: 6
• Grade Level: High School