are coral reefs so important?
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Functions of Coral Reefs: Coral reefs are important for many different reasons aside from supposedly containing the most diverse ecosystems on the planet. They: protect coastlines from the damaging effects of wave action and tropical storms. provide habitats and shelter for many marine organisms.
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Most reef-building corals contain photosynthetic algae, called zooxanthellae, that live in their tissues. The corals and algae have a mutualistic relationship. The coral provides the algae with a protected environment and compounds they need for photosynthesis.
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Poor water quality can pose a health risk for people. Poor water quality can also pose a health risk for ecosystems. In the Florida Keys, good water quality is essential to a healthy marine ecosystem. Seagrass and coral reef communities thrive in clean water that is relatively low in nutrients.
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Protective legislation. The reef is protected by two complementary pieces of federal legislation: ... Australia's key national environment law, the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999, protects nationally significant matters including the Great Barrier Reef World and National Heritage areas.
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Coral reefs are unaffected by pollution. Humans have impacted the rainforests through mining, agriculture, and construction. The Earth's history has had a significant effect on the characteristics of its organisms and biomes.
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Urchins. Sea urchins are important herbivores on coral reefs, and in some ecosystems they play a critical role in maintaining the balance between coral and algae. Their role can be especially important on reefs where other herbivores (such as parrotfishes and rabbitfishes) have been depleted.
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Damage to tropical coral reefs, which are home to one quarter of all marine species, could drastically reduce the ocean's biodiversity. ... But as acidification continues, the ocean will take up less and less carbon dioxide—meaning we may see an increase in the rate of global warming.
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Ocean acidification will affect humans too! It will affect the food we eat since most of our shellfish requires calcium carbonate to form or to fortify their shells. ... The presence of healthy coral reefs is imperative to our survival because we rely on them for food, coastal protection, medicines and tourism dollars.
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Under the Endangered Species Act, 22 coral species are listed as threatened, and three are listed as endangered. The primary threats to coral reefs are climate change, pollution, and impacts from unsustainable fishing.
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Beautiful, live soft corals can be easy to take care in reef aquariums. ... These are hardy varieties that typically adapt well to aquarium life and don't require intense light; most do best with low to moderate lighting and water movement or similar reef tank conditions.
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The amazing diversity supports tens of thousands of marine and terrestrial species, many of which are of global conservation significance. As the world's most complex expanse of coral reefs, the reefs contain some 400 species of corals in 60 genera. There are also large ecologically important inter-reefal areas.
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Significant similarities between coral reefs and coastal ecosystems exist that are worth mentioning. Like coral reefs, mangroves only grow near the equator, and their role is to protect inland masses and provide nourishment and shelter for a variety of wildlife species.
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Corals form barriers to protect the shoreline from waves and storms. The coral reef structure buffers shorelines against waves, storms, and floods, helping to prevent loss of life, property damage, and erosion. ... Several million people live in U.S. coastal areas adjacent to or near coral reefs.
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The Northwest Hawaiian Island coral reefs are home to about seven thousand species of plants and animals. Coral reefs not only provide marine species with a rich habitat, but they also assist people as well. Millions of people around the world rely on fish caught in and around coral reefs.
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Millions of species live in and around coral reefs Coral reefs are home to millions of species. Hidden beneath the ocean waters, coral reefs teem with life. Fish, corals, lobsters, clams, seahorses, sponges, and sea turtles are only a few of the thousands of creatures that rely on reefs for their survival.
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Importance of biodiversity. Biodiversity is important to humans for many reasons. ... Ecological life support— biodiversity provides functioning ecosystems that supply oxygen, clean air and water, pollination of plants, pest control, wastewater treatment and many ecosystem services.
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Coral reefs protect coastlines from storms and erosion, provide jobs for local communities, and offer opportunities for recreation. They are also are a source of food and new medicines. Over half a billion people depend on reefs for food, income, and protection.