• Shapers of landmass: Reefs play a part in the formation of tropical islands through deposition and accumulation of Calcium Carbonate rock (limestone) and sand.
• Mediators of global climate: Corals remove large amounts of carbon from the atmosphere as they grow, actually "fixing" 700 billion kilograms a year. Carbon dioxide is a greenhouse gas that contributes to global warming. .
Coral Reefs are also very important to the economy:.
• Recreation and tourism: tourists spend about $1.2 billion annually in the Florida Keys.
• Food fisheries: the value of reef fisheries (including shellfish and other invertebrates) off the Keys is estimated at $48.4 million.
• Other industries: reefs support a large trade in aquarium fish and are a habitat for sport fish. .
Most present-day reefs have probably been growing for 5,000 to 10,000 years. But their continued survival is now threatened. Reefs around the world are now declining at an unprecedented rate--one that far outstrips our understanding of the problem (Cousteau, 1985). Few long-term studies of coral reefs have been conducted, 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 vulnerable to structural change. They house significantly fewer species of fast-growing and reef-building corals, and diseases have affected the entire basin while the far greater size of the Pacific has tended to keep outbreaks reef-specific or regional. The third largest barrier reef system in the world is located off the Florida Keys. Its recent decline has been attributed to multiple causes, almost all of which involve human activity. Most scientists agree that the greatest threat to Florida's reefs is degraded water quality, when land is cleared for development or agriculture, fertilizers, pesticides, and eroded soil wash out to sea when it rains.
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. ... Died corals lead further on to the death of the reef. ... aving the Coral Reefs" Futurists....
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 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...
