Coral reefs begin to form when free-swimming coral larvae attach to submerged rocks or other hard surfaces along the edges of islands or continents. As the corals grow and expand, reefs take on one of three major characteristic structures —fringing, barrier or atoll.
Coral reefs provide a buffer, protecting our coasts from waves, storms, and floods. Corals form barriers to protect the shoreline from waves and storms. The coral reef structure buffers shorelines against waves, storms, and floods, helping to prevent loss of life, property damage, and erosion.
Coral reefs are communities of hundreds of thousands of tiny animals called coral polyps. They grow in sunlit shallows of warm clear water. The reefs are built up as new corals attach atop the skeletons of dead animals.
Functions of Coral Reefs: Coral reefs are important for many different reasons aside from supposedly containing the most diverse ecosystems on the planet. They: protect coastlines from the damaging effects of wave action and tropical storms. provide habitats and shelter for many marine organisms.
Once the coral is dead, the reefs will also die and erode, destroying important marine life spawning and feeding grounds. ... And these are just the results that scientists can predict with near certainty — though many point out they can't predict everything that might happen if the coral reefs disappear.
Human impact on coral reefs is significant. Coral reefs are dying around the world. Damaging activities include coral mining, pollution (organic and non-organic), overfishing, blast fishing, the digging of canals and access into islands and bays.
Conserve water: The less water you use, the less runoff and wastewater will pollute our oceans. Help reduce pollution: Walk, bike or ride the bus. Fossil fuel emissions from cars and industry raise lead to ocean warming which causes mass-bleaching of corals and can lead to widespread destruction of reefs.
People also receive food from the coral reefs and they need this food to survive. They also protect us from storms and large waves.” ... “Coral reefs are very important because it is a habitat for many marine organisms. As part of the ecosystem, coral is very, very important.Mar 1, 2016