what are coral reefs

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What Are Coral Reefs?

Protection of coral reefs depends on careful vessel management to avoid hitting the reef, reducing nearby

outfalls and runoff, and careful tourists who respect the delicate communities that give such beauty to

tropical shorelines around the world.

The mention of coral reefs generally brings to mind warm climates, colorful fishes and clear

waters. However, the reef itself is actually a component of a larger ecosystem. The coral

community is really a system that includes a collection of biological communities, representing

one of the most diverse ecosystems in the world. For this reason, coral reefs often are referred

to as the "rainforests of the oceans."

Corals themselves are tiny animals which belong to the group cnidaria(the "c" is silent). Other

cnidarians include hydras, jellyfish, and sea anemones. Corals are sessileanimals, meaning they

are not mobile but stay fixed in one place. They feed by reaching out with tentacles to catch

prey such as small fish and planktonic animals. Corals live in colonies consisting of many

individuals, each of which is called polyp. They secrete a hard calcium carbonate skeleton,

which serves as a uniform base orsubstratefor the colony. The skeleton also provides

protection, as the polyps can contract into the structure if predators approach. It is these hard

skeletal structures that build up coral reefs over time. The calcium carbonate is secreted at the

base of the polyps, so the living coral colony occurs at the surface of the skeletal structure,

completely covering it. Calcium carbonate is continuously deposited by the living colony,

adding to the size of the structure. Growth of these structures varies greatly, depending on the

species of coral and environmental conditions-- ranging from 0.3 to 10 centimeters per year.

Different species of coral build structures of various sizes and shapes ("brain corals," "fan

corals," etc.), creating amazing diversity and complexity in the coral reef ecosystem. Various

coral species tend to be segregated into characteristic zones on a reef, separated out by

competition with other species and by environmental conditions.


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Virtually all reef-dwelling corals have a symbiotic(mutually beneficial) relationship with algae

called zooxanthellae. The plant-like algae live inside the coral polyps and perform

photosynthesis, producing food which is shared with the coral. In exchange the coral provides

the algae with protection and access to light, which is necessary for photosynthesis. The

zooxanthellae also lend their color to their coral symbionts. Coral bleachingoccurs when corals

lose their zooxanthellae, exposing the white calcium carbonate skeletons of the coral colony.

There are a number of stresses or environmental changes that may cause bleaching including

disease, excess shade, increased levels of ultraviolet radiation, sedimentation, pollution, salinity

changes, and increased temperatures.

Because the zooxanthellae depend on light for photosynthesis,

reef building corals are found in shallow, clear water where light

can penetrate down to the coral polyps. Reef building coral

communities also require tropical or sub-tropical temperatures,

and exist globally in a band 30 degrees north to 30 degrees

south of the equator. Reefs are generally classified in three

types. Fringing reefs, the most common type, project seaward

directly from the shores of islands or continents. Barrier

reefsare platforms separated from the adjacent land by a bay or lagoon. The longest barrier

reefs occur off the coasts of Australia and Belize. Atollsrest on the tops of submerged

volcanoes. They are usually circular or oval with a central lagoon. Parts of the atoll may emerge

as islands. Over 300 atolls are found in the south Pacific.

Coral reefs provide habitats for a large variety of organisms. These organisms rely on corals as

a source of food and shelter. Besides the corals themselves and their symbiotic algae, othercreatures that call coral reefs home include various sponges; molluscs such as sea slugs,

nudibranchs, oysters, and clams; crustaceans like crabs and shrimp; many kinds of sea worms;

echinoderms like star fish and sea urchins; other cnidarians such as jellyfish and sea anemones;

various types of fungi; sea turtles; and many species of fish.

For more background on corals and coral reefs, see the section of the links page withGeneralCoral Reef Information.

Sources:

Ruppert, EE and Barnes, RD, 1994, Invertebrate Zoology, 6th Edition, Saunders

College Publishing, Philadelphia

An Introduction to Coral Reefs, University of the Virgin Islands

Photo credits:
http://water.epa.gov/type/oceb/habitat/coral_links.cfm#generalhttp://water.epa.gov/type/oceb/habitat/coral_links.cfm#generalhttp://water.epa.gov/type/oceb/habitat/coral_links.cfm#generalhttp://water.epa.gov/type/oceb/habitat/coral_links.cfm#generalhttp://water.epa.gov/type/oceb/habitat/coral_links.cfm#generalhttp://water.epa.gov/type/oceb/habitat/coral_links.cfm#general


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Top photo: French angel fish swimming among corals and sponges on a Caribbean

reef.

Photo credit:Charles Lobue, EPA Region 2, New York, New York

Second photo: Close-up of coral polyps with tentacles extended.Photo credit:Charles Lobue, EPA Region 2, New York, New York

Third photo: Brain coral and seafan on a Caribbean reef.

Photo credit:Charles Lobue, EPA Region 2, New York, New York

Bottom photo: Scientists descending to a coral reef carrying underwater clipboards for

note taking.

Top of page

Why Are Coral Communities Important?Coral reefs and their associated communities of seagrasses, mangroves and mudflats are

sensitive indicators of water quality and the ecological integrity of the ecosystem. They tolerate

relatively narrow ranges of temperature, salinity, water clarity, and other chemical and water

quality characteristics. Reefs thus are excellent sentinels of the quality of their environment.

Proper monitoring of reefs can identify changes in water quality or impacts from land-basedactivities. Monitoring changes in water quality can help local resource managers understand the

implications of actions occurring in watersheds that are associated with particular coral

communities. These connections will help in development of sound management plans for coral

reefs and other coastal and marine resources.

Man has had a long association with reefs. They are important fishery and nursery areas, and

more recently have proved to be very important economically as tourist attractions. Reefs

provide protection from erosion to coastlines and sand for beaches. However, reefs located

near coastal populations are showing increasing signs of stress and are not faring as well as

reefs which are more distant from centers of human population.

Top of page
http://water.epa.gov/type/oceb/habitat/coral_index.cfm#contenthttp://water.epa.gov/type/oceb/habitat/coral_index.cfm#contenthttp://water.epa.gov/type/oceb/habitat/coral_index.cfm#contenthttp://water.epa.gov/type/oceb/habitat/coral_index.cfm#contenthttp://water.epa.gov/type/oceb/habitat/coral_index.cfm#contenthttp://water.epa.gov/type/oceb/habitat/coral_index.cfm#content


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What Problems Exist?There are two types of stresses associated with reef systems: natural and human-induced. The

effects of these stresses can range from negligible to catastrophic. Reefs display a surprising

adaptation to short-term natural catastrophic events, such as hurricanes, and usually recover to

normal community structure. These natural events can even be considered beneficial in regards

to biological diversity. Severe storm events on land can topple large trees. This opens up the

forest to recolonization and results in a greater diversity of plants. This same process occurs

with storm impacts to reefs. The damaged area of the reef is often recolonized by a greater

diversity of organisms than existed before the storm. In the long term this event benefits the

ecological integrity of the reef.

However, reefs are not well adapted to survive exposure to long-term stress. Some examples

include agricultural and industrial runoff, increased sedimentation from land clearing, human

sewage and toxic discharges. Many land-based activities have important implications for reefs.

Agricultural activities can introduce herbicides, pesticides, fertilizers and runoff from animal

feed lots. Sewage discharges can introduce nitrogen and phosphate compounds along with

pathogens and mixtures of toxics. Uncontrolled land clearing can result in erosion, with the

resultant increase in sediment loads to surface waters. Roadways, parking lots and buildings

consist of impervious surfaces. These surfaces increase runoff rates and carry with those waters

mixtures of dissolved substances to surface waters. The surface waters in any watershed

eventually discharge into coastal or near-coastal waters. These waters can then impact coral

communities associated with these discharge points. Thus, activities occurring in distant

locations have impacts to reefs which are far away from these activities.

Top of page

Are There Solutions?There have been increasing efforts to establish better management and conservation measures

to protect the diversity of these biologically rich areas. Management practices have historically

focused on the coral reef proper and not considered associated communities, such as

seagrasses, mangroves, mudflats or defined watersheds (which transport complex mixtures in

their waters), in a meaningful manner. This attempted to manage the reef in isolation, like an

island.
http://water.epa.gov/type/oceb/habitat/coral_index.cfm#contenthttp://water.epa.gov/type/oceb/habitat/coral_index.cfm#contenthttp://water.epa.gov/type/oceb/habitat/coral_index.cfm#content


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Current management efforts recognize the importance of including reefs as part of a larger

system, where integrated coastal zone management tools and watershed concepts can be used

in the development of comprehensive management and conservation plans. One example is

where EPA has joined with NOAA and the state of Florida in the establishment of theFloridaKeys National Marine Sanctuary(FKNMS) . The Marine Sanctuary operates under abroad-based management plan intended to enhance the sustainability of the Florida Keys reefs.

Other important efforts in coral reef conservation and management include theU S Coral ReefTask Forceand the International and the U.S.Coral Reef Initiatives.

When reefs are considered as part of a larger watershed, the recognization of the complexity of

environmental stressors can be understood. Management plans can be developed to lessen

impacts to mangroves, seagrasses and the reef ecosystem, based upon scientific data and a

better understanding of the system. EPA is in the process of developing guidance for a

watershed approach to coral ecosystem protection.

See also:
http://www.fknms.nos.noaa.gov/http://www.fknms.nos.noaa.gov/http://www.fknms.nos.noaa.gov/http://www.fknms.nos.noaa.gov/http://water.epa.gov/type/oceb/habitat/taskforce.cfmhttp://water.epa.gov/type/oceb/habitat/taskforce.cfmhttp://water.epa.gov/type/oceb/habitat/taskforce.cfmhttp://water.epa.gov/type/oceb/habitat/taskforce.cfmhttp://water.epa.gov/type/oceb/habitat/initiative.cfmhttp://water.epa.gov/type/oceb/habitat/initiative.cfmhttp://water.epa.gov/type/oceb/habitat/initiative.cfmhttp://www.epa.gov/epahome/exitepa.htmhttp://www.epa.gov/epahome/exitepa.htmhttp://water.epa.gov/type/oceb/habitat/initiative.cfmhttp://water.epa.gov/type/oceb/habitat/taskforce.cfmhttp://water.epa.gov/type/oceb/habitat/taskforce.cfmhttp://www.fknms.nos.noaa.gov/http://www.fknms.nos.noaa.gov/


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Coral reef protectionFrom Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

A diversity of corals

Coral reef protectionis a process of maintaining healthycoral reefs.Two types of stressors are associated

withreefsystems: natural and human-induced. The effects of these stressors can range from negligible to

catastrophic.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coral_reefhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coral_reefhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coral_reefhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reefhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reefhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reefhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Coral_Outcrop_Flynn_Reef.jpghttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Coral_Outcrop_Flynn_Reef.jpghttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Coral_Outcrop_Flynn_Reef.jpghttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Coral_Outcrop_Flynn_Reef.jpghttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Coral_Outcrop_Flynn_Reef.jpghttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Coral_Outcrop_Flynn_Reef.jpghttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Reefhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coral_reef


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Reefs are not well adapted to survive exposure to long-term stress. Some examples include agricultural and

industrial runoff, increased sedimentation from land clearing, humansewageandtoxicdischarges.[1]

Reducing

these stressors mitigates the effects of increased ocean temperature associated withclimate change.[2]

Short-term stressors can also inflict damage, such as from boatanchorsor accidental groundings. Boaters can

protectcoralby dropping their anchors on sandy patches of sea bed.[3]

Accidental groundings by boats can

obliterate large areas of coral reef. Lettucecoralsand branching corals such aselkhornand finger coral are

extremely fragile, but even massive boulder corals can be crushed or snapped off and turned upside down to

die by a sailboat keel. Groundings in sand, or even the churning action ofpropellers,can cause major localized

siltation, indirectly killing adjacent corals.[4]

[edit]Marine Protected Areas

Marine Protected Areas (MPAs)have become increasingly prominent for reef management. MPAs promote

responsiblefishery managementandhabitat protection.Much likenational parksandwildlife refuges,and to

varying degrees, MPAs restrict potentially damaging activities. MPAs encompass both social and biological

objectives, including reef restoration, aesthetics, biodiversity, and economic benefits. Conflicts surrounding

MPAs involve lack of participation, clashing views, effectiveness, and funding.[citation needed]

Many MPAs have

been found to offer inadequate protection for coral reefs by marine researchers. Only 27% of coral reefs are in

MPAs. In addition, only 15% of sites were considered effective, with 38% being partially effective and 47%

being ineffective. This leaves only 6% of coral reefs in effectively managed MPAs.[5]

In some situations, as in

thePhoenix Islands Protected Area,MPAs can also provide revenue, potentially equal to the income they

would have generated without controls, asKiribatidid for itsPhoenix Islands.[6]

Biosphere reserve,marine park,national monumentandworld heritagestatus can protect reefs. For example,

Belize's Barrier reef,Chagos archipelago,Sian Ka'an,theGalapagosislands,Great Barrier Reef,Henderson

Island,PalauandPapahnaumokukea Marine National Monumentare world heritage sites.[citation needed]

In Australia, the Great Barrier Reef is protected by theGreat Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority,and is the

subject of much legislation, including a biodiversity action plan.[citation needed]

Inhabitants of Ahus Island,Manus Province,Papua New Guinea,have followed a generations-old practice of

restricting fishing in six areas of their reef lagoon. Their cultural traditions allow line fishing, but not net orspear

fishing.The result is both thebiomassand individual fish sizes are significantly larger than in places where

fishing is unrestricted.[7][8]

[edit]See also
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sewagehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sewagehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sewagehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Toxichttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Toxichttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Toxichttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coral_reef_protection#cite_note-1http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coral_reef_protection#cite_note-1http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coral_reef_protection#cite_note-1http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Climate_changehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Climate_changehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coral_reef_protection#cite_note-2http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coral_reef_protection#cite_note-2http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coral_reef_protection#cite_note-2http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anchorhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anchorhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anchorhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coralhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coralhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coralhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coral_reef_protection#cite_note-Bartels-3http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coral_reef_protection#cite_note-Bartels-3http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coral_reef_protection#cite_note-Bartels-3http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coralshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coralshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coralshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elkhorn_coralhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elkhorn_coralhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elkhorn_coralhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Propellershttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Propellershttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Propellershttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coral_reef_protection#cite_note-4http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coral_reef_protection#cite_note-4http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coral_reef_protection#cite_note-4http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Coral_reef_protection&action=edit&section=1http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Coral_reef_protection&action=edit&section=1http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Coral_reef_protection&action=edit&section=1http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marine_Protected_Areahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marine_Protected_Areahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fisheries_managementhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fisheries_managementhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fisheries_managementhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Habitat_(ecology)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Habitat_(ecology)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Habitat_(ecology)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_parkhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_parkhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_parkhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wildlife_refugehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wildlife_refugehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wildlife_refugehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_neededhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_neededhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_neededhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coral_reef_protection#cite_note-5http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coral_reef_protection#cite_note-5http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coral_reef_protection#cite_note-5http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phoenix_Islands_Protected_Areahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phoenix_Islands_Protected_Areahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phoenix_Islands_Protected_Areahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kiribatihttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kiribatihttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kiribatihttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phoenix_Islandshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phoenix_Islandshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coral_reef_protection#cite_note-6http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coral_reef_protection#cite_note-6http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coral_reef_protection#cite_note-6http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biosphere_reservehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biosphere_reservehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marine_parkhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marine_parkhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marine_parkhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_monumenthttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_monumenthttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_monumenthttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_heritagehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_heritagehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_heritagehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chagos_archipelagohttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chagos_archipelagohttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chagos_archipelagohttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sian_Ka%27anhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sian_Ka%27anhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sian_Ka%27anhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Galapagoshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Galapagoshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Galapagoshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Great_Barrier_Reefhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Great_Barrier_Reefhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Great_Barrier_Reefhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Henderson_Island_(Pitcairn_Islands)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Henderson_Island_(Pitcairn_Islands)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Henderson_Island_(Pitcairn_Islands)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Henderson_Island_(Pitcairn_Islands)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Palauhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Palauhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Palauhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Papah%C4%81naumoku%C4%81kea_Marine_National_Monumenthttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Papah%C4%81naumoku%C4%81kea_Marine_National_Monumenthttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Papah%C4%81naumoku%C4%81kea_Marine_National_Monumenthttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_neededhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_neededhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_neededhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Great_Barrier_Reef_Marine_Park_Authorityhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Great_Barrier_Reef_Marine_Park_Authorityhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Great_Barrier_Reef_Marine_Park_Authorityhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_neededhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_neededhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_neededhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_neededhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Manus_Provincehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Manus_Provincehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Manus_Provincehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Papua_New_Guineahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Papua_New_Guineahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Papua_New_Guineahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spear_fishinghttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spear_fishinghttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spear_fishinghttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spear_fishinghttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biomasshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biomasshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biomasshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coral_reef_protection#cite_note-7http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coral_reef_protection#cite_note-7http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coral_reef_protection#cite_note-7http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Coral_reef_protection&action=edit&section=2http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Coral_reef_protection&action=edit&section=2http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Coral_reef_protection&action=edit&section=2http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Coral_reef_protection&action=edit&section=2http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coral_reef_protection#cite_note-7http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coral_reef_protection#cite_note-7http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biomasshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spear_fishinghttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spear_fishinghttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Papua_New_Guineahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Manus_Provincehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_neededhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Great_Barrier_Reef_Marine_Park_Authorityhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_neededhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Papah%C4%81naumoku%C4%81kea_Marine_National_Monumenthttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Palauhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Henderson_Island_(Pitcairn_Islands)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Henderson_Island_(Pitcairn_Islands)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Great_Barrier_Reefhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Galapagoshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sian_Ka%27anhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chagos_archipelagohttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_heritagehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_monumenthttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marine_parkhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Biosphere_reservehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coral_reef_protection#cite_note-6http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phoenix_Islandshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kiribatihttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phoenix_Islands_Protected_Areahttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coral_reef_protection#cite_note-5http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wikipedia:Citation_neededhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wildlife_refugehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_parkhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Habitat_(ecology)http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fisheries_managementhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marine_Protected_Areahttp://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Coral_reef_protection&action=edit&section=1http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coral_reef_protection#cite_note-4http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Propellershttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elkhorn_coralhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coralshttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coral_reef_protection#cite_note-Bartels-3http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coralhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anchorhttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coral_reef_protection#cite_note-2http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Climate_changehttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coral_reef_protection#cite_note-1http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Toxichttp://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sewage


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what are coral reefs

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