Ecosystem of the Coral Reefs
Ecosystem of the coral reefs is very vulnerable. These creatures are
usually the first to die during ecological catastrophes.
Coral reefs are often called "rainforests of the sea". They are home to
a quarter of the marine species and play a key role in ecosystems of
seas and oceans maintaining their biological diversity. Coral reefs that
originated more than 200 millions year ago, are themselves a very old
and productive ecosystem. Apart from an important role they play in
the environment they are also important for the development of
tourism, fishing industry and health care. But they are reducing in
numbers nowadays.
Coral reefs are one of the most beautiful and at the same time the
most vulnerable species. They can be found in tropical and subtropical
water in a variety of sizes. They form small rocks and The Great
Barrier Reef stretching for over 2,300 kilometers along the coast of
Australia is the largest structure formed by a living creature in the
world. But even small reefs are home to thousands of marine species
and algae which form a complicated and dynamic ecosystem.
In tropic waters where there are coral reefs there are also many
species of fish as well as other marine plants and animals which play an
important role in reefs' productivity thus benefiting people as about
100 millions people live in the costal areas and are directly dependent
on the ecosystem or the coral reefs as people there mainly live on
fishing and tourism.
Circular groups of coral islets form atolls which are sometimes
inhabited by people.
Building stone which contains coral residuals finds its application as
constructional material used for inner and outer decoration of the
houses. Millions of years ago it was shell limestone and consisted of
sediments, corals and mollusks shells but with the course of time it
turned into a solid rock, and peculiar patterns left by corals and layers
of different minerals can be seen on its surface.
Coral jewelry is becoming popular no