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Some of the biodiversity of a coral reef, in this case the Great Barrier Reef, Australia. Coral reefs are aragonite structures produced by living organisms, found in shallow, tropical marine waters with little to no nutrients in the water.

The United States Coral Reef Task Force (USCRTF) was established in 1998 by Presidential Executive Order to lead U.S. efforts to preserve and protect coral reef ecosystems. The USCRTF includes leaders of 12 Federal agencies, seven U.S. States, Territories, Commonwealths, and three Freely Associated States.

Most coral reefs are built from stony corals, and are formed by polyps that live together in groups. The polyps secrete a hard carbonate exoskeleton which provides support and protection for the body of each polyp.

Coral reef fish are fish which live amongst or in close relation to coral reefs. Coral reefs form complex ecosystems with tremendous biodiversity. Among the myriad inhabitants, the fish stand out as particularly colourful and interesting to watch.

LOCATION: Coral reefs are generally found in clear, tropical oceans. Coral reefs form in waters from the surface to about 150 feet deep because they need sunlight to survive. The three types of reefs include fringing reefs, barrier reefs, and atolls.

Many coral reefs are hundreds of metres deep and yet corals will not grow at depths of more than 30-40 m. It has been suggested that deep reefs have formed during a long period of subsidence. Thus, coral forms in shallow waters and then sinks.

Coral Reefs: Issues of Importance CORALS: AN OVERVIEW Scientists divide natural objects and living things into several categories—animals, plants, fungi, bacteria, and protists.

Aerial image of oil slick moving towards coral reef (from 1986 spill at Bahia las Minas refinery in Panama).

A coral reef is produced only if the coral reef community produces more calcium carbonate than is removed. Indeed, some coral reef communities grow too slowly to build a reef.

* Coral Reefs Ecosystems Essays * Navassa * Northwestern Hawaiian Islands * U.S.

Coral reefs are fragile, highly complex communities which have great biological and habitat diversity.

Distribution of the world's coral reefs, showing the relationship to average temperature of the ocean surface.Distribution of the world's coral reefs, showing the relationship to average temperature of the ocean surface.

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coral reef systems in certain parts of the world. Although coral reef ecosystems have long proven their resiliency to natural stressors, many of these unique ecosystems are under an increasing amount of pressure from anthropogenic, or human induced, influences.

Some of the biodiversity of a coral reef, in this case the Great Barrier Reef, Australia.

Coral Reefs, Explore the coral reefs of the Tropics = Help us protect coral reefs in Indonesia and coral reefs around the world If the present rate of destruction continues, 70% of the world's coral reefs will be destroyed by the year 2050.

Coral Reefs are the "Rainforests" of the ocean. Reefs are ecologically important ecosystems and have a high biodiversity that serves as a storage bank of rich genetic resources. They are a source of food and medicine, and they protect the coast from wave erosion.