Coral Reefs (main)
From The Encyclopedia of Earth
Coral Reefs
Source: National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
Coral reef refers to a marine ecosystem in which the main organisms are corals that house algal symbionts, called zooxanthelae, within their tissues. The algae photosynthesize and share this energy with the corals in exchange for protection and access to light. Coral reefs are some of the most diverse ecosystems in the world and are therefore often referred to as the "rainforests of the ocean". Because coral reefs are sensitive to such factors as siltation, water pollution, water temperature, salinity and other chemical and physical factors, they can serve as indicators of environmental change.
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Featured Article Coral Reefs
A coral reef generally is a marine ecosystem in which the principal organisms are corals that harbour algal symbionts within their tissues. These ecosystems require: 1) fully marine waters; 2) warm temperatures; and 3) ample sunlight (Solar radiation). They are therefore restricted to shallow waters of tropical and subtropical regions.
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Ocean acidification troublesThe seas in which corals and other calcifying species dwell are turning acidic, their pH slowly dropping as Earth's oceans acidify in response to increased sulfur dioxide... More »
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Banded butterflyfish (Coral Reefs)The Banded butterflyfish (Chaetodon striatus) is a member of the butterflyfish family (Family Chaetodontidae) that lives on coral reefs in the Western Atlantic Ocean and... More »
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French angelfish (Coral Reefs)The French angelfish (Pomacanthus paru) is a member of the angelfish family (Family Pomacanthidae) that lives among coral reefs in the Atlantic Ocean. ... More »
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