5) Main Focus: Coral Reefs [Introduction]

Introduction On Coral Reefs

Coral reefs are massive structures made of limestone deposited by living things or are argonite structures produced by living organisms, found in marine waters with little to no nutrients in the water.

Coral reefs support approximately 25 percent of all known marine species. Coral reefs are home to more than 4,000 species of fish, 700 species of coral, and thousands of other plants and animals.

Although coral is often mistaken for a rock or a plant, it is actually composed of tiny, fragile animals. Although there are hundreds of different species of corals, they are generally classified as either hard coral or soft coral. Hard corals grow in colonies and are the architects of coral reefs. Soft corals, such as sea fingers and sea whips, are soft and bendable and often resemble plants or trees.