reef ecosystem
Underwater limestone habitat
A reef ecosystem is the community of living organisms—corals, fish, algae, invertebrates—that inhabit a reef structure and interact with each other and their environment.
Coral reefs support extraordinary biodiversity despite occupying a tiny fraction of ocean area.
The term appears in marine biology and conservation contexts: Climate change threatens reef ecosystems worldwide.
- coral bleachingStress-induced reef discoloration
- coralMarine skeletal formation
- coral gardenUnderwater colony ecosystem
- symbiosisInterspecies biological interdependence
- cleaning stationReef site for parasite removal
clown fish · algae · ocean acidification · limestone · coral polyps · tropical waters · overfishing · spawning · coastal development · climate change · invasive species · calcification · atoll · echinoderms · sponges · energy flow · fish spawning · anemone
reef ecosystemopen ocean
Sea far from shore
deep sea · sandy bottom · blue water · open water · mudflat
reef ecosystemfreshwater ecosystem
Non-salty water community
river ecosystem · freshwater lake · lake ecosystem · pond ecosystem · desert ecosystem