Coral reefs are one of the most ecosystems and what you can do to save them!
What are Coral Reefs? 3i2i3p
Coral reefs may look like skeletons. They develop in shallow, warm water, usually near land, and mostly in the tropics - between 70 and 85 degrees fahrenheit (21 - 30 celsius). They are home to one-third of all marine fish species and thousands of other species. Reefs provide homes to fish, endangered and threatened species, and are safe havens to marine mammals and turtles. Without coral reefs to call home, these animals could all die.
Threats to the Reef 2o4761
More than half the world's coral reefs are extinct.
Types of Coral Reefs 4f113o
- Fringing reefs: Reefs that form along a coastline and grow on the continental shelf in shallow water.
- Barrier reefs: Reefs that grow parallel to shorelines but farther out than fringing reefs. They are usually separated from the land by a deep lagoon.
- Coral Atolls: Rings of coral that grow on top of sunken volcanoes in the ocean. They start off as fringe reefs surrounding a volcanic island and then - once the volcano sinks - only the reef remains.
What You Can Do to Save the Reef 2k4wq
- Encourage your 'rents not to use chemically enhanced pesticides or fertilizers. They leach into the groundwater and ultimately end up damaging coral reefs.
- reef friendly businesses. Ask how reef-friendly your tour company is if you go diving on your next vacation.
- Tell your peeps how important the reef is so that they can help the cause.
- Recycle. Manufacturing plastic, and metal from scratch can lead to global warming so help out by recycling your trash.
- Before buying tropical fish, ask if they were ecologically harvested. Some fish are caught in a manner that damages the reef.
