Coral Reef Information

Coral reefs are beautiful formations of corals, fish, and many other animals that live in a marine environment. Coral reefs are formed from the limestone structure left at the death of coral polyps, which supports the life of the living coral and other living animals.

There are two main types of corals: hard corals, and soft corals. Hard corals are those made of calcium carbonate, which form the structure of the reef. Their skeletons are formed by receiving their energy from symbiotic algae. Soft corals are not able to build reefs as they do not produce a high enough amount of calcium carbonate.

Coral reefs are located in locations where the climate is temperate or tropical in shallow, warm waters. Such locations are the Great Barrier Reef in Queensland, Australia, and many throughout the Pacific Ocean.

Coral reefs are extremely important due to their quantity and diversity of living species, with over 25% of marine life living in coral reefs. Their ecosystem plays a large part in the protection of coastlines from many issues, such as wave erosion. Yet, the number of coral reef coverage in the ocean is quickly declining.

There are 8 different formations in which coral reefs exist, which are: fringing reefs, barrier reefs (e.g. Great Barrier Reef), bank reefs, ribbon reefs, patch reefs, table reefs, atoll reefs, and apron reefs.

Coral Reef Facts

• The Great Barrier Reef, located in Queensland, North-East Australia, is the largest coral reef formation in the world, covering almost 350,000 square kilometers, and created of almost 3,000 smaller reefs. The Great Barrier Reef was formed 500,000 years ago.
• The most coral reefs are located in the Pacific Ocean region.
• The first coral reef was formed over 500 million years ago, making them one of the oldest ecosystems to exist.
• Coral reefs are a source of food, medicine, and income for thousands and thousands of people.
• Coral reefs play a major role in the protection of coastlines from harmful erosion.
• Coral bleaching and water pollution are harming and destroying coral reefs at an alarming rate. A slight change in temperature can induce an extremely large amount of shock and stress of the living organisms, mainly coral, in coral reefs, and kill the corals.
• Coral polyps are related directly to jellyfish and anemones.