reef ecosystems
Underwater limestone habitats
Reef ecosystems are biological communities built around coral or rocky structures in shallow ocean waters.
Coral reefs support extraordinary biodiversity—fish, invertebrates, algae, and microorganisms living in intricate interdependence.
These ecosystems are sensitive to temperature changes, pollution, and ocean acidification: Climate change threatens reef ecosystems worldwide.
The term also applies to artificial reefs created from sunken ships or concrete structures.
- barrier reefsOffshore coral formations creating lagoons
- coral polypsReef-forming marine invertebrates
- algaePrimitive aquatic photosynthesizers
- fishing practicesMethods for catching fish
- echinodermsSpiny-skinned marine invertebrates
spawning grounds · limestone formations · symbiotic relationships · coral reefs · crustaceans · atolls · restoration projects · coral · mollusks · carbon sequestration · climate change impacts · moray · tidal pools · biodiversity hotspots · clown fish · tide · diving · night diving
reef ecosystemsopen ocean
Sea far from shore
deep sea · blue water · offshore waters · water column · open water