Coral Reef The Ocean Floor

Coral reefs only take up about 1 of the ocean floor but host an estimated 25 of all ocean species.

Coral reef the ocean floor.

A coral reef is an underwater ecosystem characterized by reef building corals reefs are formed of colonies of coral polyps held together by calcium carbonate most coral reefs are built from stony corals whose polyps cluster in groups. 2012 costanza et al. But coral reefs only occupy less than one tenth of one percent of the ocean floor. Offering vibrant colors and the greatest biodiversity of any marine ecosystem on the planet.

At the ocean floor we have everything that is needed to create the reef tank of your dreams. Fish harvested from coral reefs feed tens of millions of people in developing countries and reef related fishing trade and tourism generates up to 30 billion annually accounting for more than 15 percent of the gdp of 23 nations. Reefs begin when a polyp attaches itself to a rock on the sea floor then divides. 2014 unfortunately reefs worldwide are threatened by an increasing array of impacts primarily from global climate change unsustainable fishing practices and land based.

C overing less than one percent of the ocean floor coral reefs support an estimated 25 percent of all known marine species. At their base is a hard protective limestone skeleton called a calicle which forms the structure of coral reefs. Some coral reefs are so large they are even visible from outer space. Coral reefs are amazing habitats.

The national park service has ten parks with coral reefs. Coral reefs are one of earth s most diverse ecosystems. Scientists estimate that more than one million species of plants and animals are associated with coral reef ecosystems. This abundance of creatures that are dependent on a specific structure has given coral the nickname the rainforest of the seas.

Coral belongs to the class anthozoa in the animal phylum cnidaria which includes sea anemones and jellyfish unlike sea anemones corals secrete hard carbonate. Despite covering less than 1 percent of the ocean floor coral reefs are home to 25 percent of all fish species. Corals in captivity are mostly housed in reef tanks. They provide significant ecological economic and societal benefits valued globally at about usd 9 8 trillion each year de groot et al.