A coral reef is an underwater ecosystem characterized by reef-building corals.
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. Fishing, diving, and snorkeling on and near reefs add hundreds of millions of dollars to local businesses. The net economic value of the world’s coral reefs is estimated to be nearly tens of billionsoffsite link of U.S. dollars per year. These ecosystems are culturally important to indigenous people around the world.
Unfortunately, coral reef ecosystems are severely threatened. Some threats
are natural, such as diseases, predators, and storms. Other threats are
caused by people, including pollution, sedimentation, unsustainable
fishing practices, and climate change, which is raising ocean temperatures
and causing ocean acidification. Many of these threats can stress corals,
leading to coral bleaching and possible death, while others cause physical
damage to these delicate ecosystems. During the 2014-2017 coral bleaching
event, unusually warm waters (partially associated with a strong El Niño)
affected 70% of coral reef ecosystems worldwide. Some areas were hit
particularly hard, like the Great Barrier Reef in Australia, where
hundreds of miles of coral were bleached. Corals are able to recover from
bleaching events if conditions improve before they die, though it can take
many years for the ecosystems to fully heal. Scientists are also testing
new ways to help coral reef ecosystems, such as growing coral in a nursery
and then transplanting it to damaged areas.
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Created by Tamara Joseph