Coral Reefs

CORAL REEFS

What is a coral reef?
Coral reefs are huge structures made of limestone that is deposited by living things. There are thousands of species that live in coral reefs, but only a fraction actually produces the limestone that builds the reef.
Coral reefs support over 25% of all known marine species. They are one pf the most complex ecosystems on the planet, and are home to over 4,000 different types of fish, 700 species of coral and thousands of other plants and animals.

Other types of plants and animals also contribute to the structure of the reef. Many types of algae, seaweed, sponge, sediment and even molluscs like giant clams and oysters, add to the architecture of a coral reef. When these organisms die, they are then used as foundations for new corals.
Where are they found?
Coral reefs are found in over 100 countries. Most reefs are found between the tropics of Cancer and Capricorn, in places such as the Pacific Ocean, the Indian Ocean, the Caribbean, the Red...