Coral reef - Wikipedia
WEBCoral reefs are estimated to cover 284,300 km 2 (109,800 sq mi), [59] just under 0.1% of the oceans' surface area. The Indo-Pacific region (including the Red Sea , Indian Ocean , Southeast Asia and the Pacific ) account for 91.9% of this total.
Coral Reefs - National Geographic Society
WEBJul 18, 2024 · Coral reefs are important ocean habitats and offer a compelling case of the risks of climate change. Reefs provide a large fraction of Earth’s biodiversity —they have been called “the rainforests of the seas.”
Coral Reefs and Corals - Smithsonian Ocean
WEBThe largest coral reef is the Great Barrier Reef, which spans 1,600 miles (2,600 km) off the east coast of Australia. It is so large that it can be seen from space ! Reefs form when corals grow in shallow water close to the shore of continents or smaller islands.
Coral reef | Description, Geochemistry, Origins, & Threats
WEB2 days ago · Coral reef, ridge or hummock formed in shallow ocean areas by algae and the calcareous skeletons of coral polyps and other coelenterates. A coral reef may grow into a permanent coral island. Often called ‘rainforests of the sea,’ coral reefs are home to a spectacular variety of organisms.
Coral Reefs Ecology & Biodiversity - Coral Reef Alliance
WEBAlthough they cover less than 0.1% of the earth’s surface, coral reefs are the most biodiverse marine ecosystem in the world. Coral reefs are home to: 4,000 species of reef fish. 840 species of corals. Over 1 million species of other animals.
Coral reef ecosystems - National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
WEBFeb 1, 2019 · Coral reefs are some of the most diverse ecosystems in the world. Coral polyps, the animals primarily responsible for building reefs, can take many forms: large reef building colonies, graceful flowing fans, and even small, solitary organisms.
NOAA CoRIS - What are Coral Reefs
WEBAug 28, 2024 · Major coral reef sites are seen as red dots on this world map. Most of the reefs, with a few exceptions are found in tropical and semitropical waters, between 30° north and 30° south latitudes. At other times, the polyp extends out of the calyx.
Coral Reefs | U.S. Geological Survey - USGS.gov
WEBJun 17, 2019 · Although they cover less than 0.5% of Earth's surface, coral reefs are home to an estimated 25% of all marine species. Of the total coral reef habitat in United States waters, about 75%, or more than 16,000 square kilometers (6,000 square miles), is located in the Pacific Ocean.
Coral Reefs | Learn Science at Scitable - Nature
WEBMost reef building corals occur in less than 25 m of seawater. In addition, turbidity reduces light penetration, which restricts coral growth. High sedimentation rates can also bury or...
Coral reefs cover more of Earth’s surface than realised, new …
WEBFeb 13, 2024 · The world’s coral reefs cover an astounding 348,000 square kilometres of our planet, a new paper has revealed. While this may represent just 0.1% of the Earth’s oceans, these reefs are a vital marine habitat.
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