Sep 25, 2025 · 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 …

What is a coral reef? Coral reefs are one of the most biologically diverse ecosystems on earth, rivaled only by tropical rain forests. They are made up not only of hard and soft corals, but also …

Oct 15, 2024 · A coral reef is a term used to describe the collective structure of hard corals that help shape a coral reef ecosystem. “A coral reef is a reef whose main structure is made by …

Feb 5, 2025 · Coral reefs are among the most biologically diverse and valuable ecosystems on Earth. An estimated 25 percent of all marine life, including over 4,000 species of fish, are …

A coral reef is an underwater ecosystem characterized by reef-building corals. Reefs are formed of colonies of coral polyps held together by calcium carbonate. [1] Most coral reefs are built …

Nov 19, 2025 · Our global ocean provides equally essential ecosystem services—including half of the oxygen we breathe—and coral reefs are among the primary sources of these services.

Coral reefs begin to form when free-swimming coral larvae (planulae) attach to the submerged edges of islands or continents. As the corals grow and expand, reefs take on one of three …

Discover how coral reefs work, why they’re vital to marine life and how tiny coral polyps build vast underwater ecosystems. Learn about symbiosis, reef biodiversity and the powerful connection …

Coral reefs represent large, intricate underwater formations constructed by the calcified skeletons of tiny marine invertebrates known as coral polyps. These structures are not merely geological …

What makes up a coral reef? Charles Darwin was already fascinated by coral reefs (Darwin’s Paradox): How can such a productive ecosystem with its immense biodiversity thrive in an …