Acidification

Acidification
Photo courtesy of NOAA

April 10, 2015

Why is Coral Important?

Coral reefs, along with rainforests, support the most biodiversity on the planet. Coral reefs are home to thousands of species of fish and invertebrates that cannot be found anywhere else on Earth. Corals are animals belonging to the same family as jellyfish and sea anemones. These delicate ecosystems contribute to coastal economies: tourism, fisheries, scuba diving trips, and other local businesses which provide a large number of jobs; in turn contributing billions of dollars worldwide. Since the coastlines are more susceptible to severe storms, such as hurricanes, it is common to see a lot of damage to property and sometimes loss of human life. This is where coral reefs come to the rescue, they act as a giant buffer to large waves that would destroy much of the shoreline it collides with. So not only do coral reefs provide an enormous diversity of fish and other marine species beneficial to humans, reefs also provide protection to those who live within about 62 miles of them.
Photo retrieved from: Endangered Coral Reefs (Read more about coral here!)

The increasing acidity of the world's oceans has already destroyed much of the coral that existed, and is severely damaging what coral reefs remain. Because of this damage, people are taking action. Artificial reefs are being made from large ships, which are purposely sunk, to give marine life a chance to build homes again.
To find out how you can help save coral reefs, visit NOAA's Coral Reef Conservation Program page and click on any of the links to get involved.

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