Coral reefs
Coral reefs are underwater colonies made up of corals and other organisms, formed through the accumulation of calcium carbonate.
Coral reefs come in different formations such as barrier, atoll and fringing reefs; but the one thing they all have in common is the way in which they emerged. Coral reefs are structures which have been uplifted by earthquakes; and the movement of earth and wave actions of the sea, produce a variety of different reef systems, shapes and structures.
Their distribution is limited to the Tropics, although similar structures are found in colder climates but the rates of calcium carbonate accumulation are much lower. They cover an area of around 285, 000 km2; 92% of which is located in the Indopacific (Fig.1).
Coral reefs come in different formations such as barrier, atoll and fringing reefs; but the one thing they all have in common is the way in which they emerged. Coral reefs are structures which have been uplifted by earthquakes; and the movement of earth and wave actions of the sea, produce a variety of different reef systems, shapes and structures.
Their distribution is limited to the Tropics, although similar structures are found in colder climates but the rates of calcium carbonate accumulation are much lower. They cover an area of around 285, 000 km2; 92% of which is located in the Indopacific (Fig.1).
Fig.1 World distribution map of coral reefs (reefs indicated by a red dot)
Coral reefs are home to a number of different species and they are valuable ecosystems. They are essential to fisheries and marine productivity and are currently threatened by a combination of human activities [7]. Click on the below links to find out more;