Coral reef ecosystems - National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
2019年2月1日 · Coral reefs are some of the most diverse ecosystems in the world. Coral polyps, the animals primarily responsible for building reefs, can take many forms: large reef building colonies, graceful flowing fans, and even small, solitary organisms.
What is a Coral Reef? - NASA
2024年10月15日 · A coral reef is a term used to describe the collective structure of hard corals that help shape a coral reef ecosystem. “A coral reef is a reef whose main structure is made by living organisms, in this case corals,” said Torres-Pérez.
Coral reef - Wikipedia
A coral reef is an underwater ecosystem characterized by reef-building corals. Reefs are formed of colonies of coral polyps held together by calcium carbonate. [1] Most coral reefs are built from stony corals, whose polyps cluster in groups. Coral belongs to the class Anthozoa in the animal phylum Cnidaria, which includes sea anemones and ...
Corals Tutorial: Why are coral reefs important? - NOAA's National …
This tutorial is an overview of the biology of and threats to coral reefs, as well as efforts being made to conserve and protect them. It includes images, animations, and videos. Coral reefs are some of the most diverse ecosystems in the world.
Basic Information about Coral Reefs | US EPA - U.S. Environmental ...
2024年2月28日 · Coral reefs provide habitat for a large variety of marine life, including various sponges, oysters, clams, crabs, sea stars, sea urchins, and many species of fish. Coral reefs are also linked ecologically to nearby seagrass, mangrove, and mudflat communities.
Coral Reefs - UNEP - UN Environment Programme
Coral reefs are at the nexus of our triple planetary crises – biodiversity breakdown, climate emergency and rampant pollution resulting from decades of unsustainable production and consumption.
Coral Reefs - National Geographic Society
2024年11月21日 · Coral reefs are important ocean habitats and offer a compelling case of the risks of climate change. Reefs provide a large fraction of Earth’s biodiversity —they have been called “the rainforests of the seas.”
Coral reefs: Essential and threatened | National Oceanic and ...
2016年4月14日 · Climate change affects coral reef ecosystems by increasing sea surface temperatures and leads to coral bleaching, disease, sea level rise and storm activity. Additionally, increased carbon dioxide in the atmosphere changes …
NOAA CoRIS - What are Coral Reefs
2024年12月5日 · Appearing as solitary forms in the fossil record more than 400 million years ago, corals are extremely ancient animals that evolved into modern reef-building forms over the last 25 million years. Coral reefs are unique (e.g., the largest structures on earth of biological origin) and complex systems.
Coral Reefs | US EPA - U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
2024年12月2日 · People around the world rely on coral reefs for critical ecosystem services including nutrition, economic security, and protection from natural disasters. Learn about the importance of America's coral reefs and where the are located, the issues they face, and what EPA is doing to address these issues.