Coral reefs are a very unique biological system that results from the excretes of a small living organism called coelenterate, which belong to the group called corals. Corals are marine organisms that are found on shallow, coastal areas.
These corals release a substance that contains calcium. This substance settles to form rocky surfaces that form a sort of island in the sea. These are termed as coral reefs. These reefs are useful for photosynthetic algae that thrive on the reefs after forming a symbiotic relationship with them.
Coral reefs are organized in the form of colonies and they are formed one above the other over a period of time. This often results in mountains of reefs in the middle of the ocean.
Importance of coral reefs:
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i. The view of coral reefs, emerging out of the ocean all of sudden, is breathtaking. They attract a lot of eco-tourism.
ii. Coral reefs act as sanctuaries for a number of water species. Coral reefs are important for the existence of aquatic species that depend on them for their natural habitat.
iii. One of the activities of corals is to convert carbon dioxide into limestone. Because of this, coral reefs are able to control the carbon dioxide present in water of the ocean, making the environment healthy for other species thriving on the reefs.
iv. The islands and mountains which the coral reefs create on the shore act as a natural barrier. They prevent natural calamities like the tsunami from affecting the land population.
Image Source : aqua.org