No effort has been made to properly format the HTML version of the Marine Life Profiles, We suggest using the Adobe PDF format which includes images and has been formatted correctly. Coral reefs are biologically significant.
Coral reefs are geologically significant.
The mineral skeletons of reef dwellers have contributed significantly to island and shoreline building. Where reefs exist, they function as breakwaters, protecting shorelines and property from damaging ocean waves. And, reef growth over time provides clues to earth's climate record and possibly plays a role in global carbon dioxide balance. Coral reefs are culturally significant. Many indigenous peoples living near coral reefs have legends and religious practices tied to reef life and the ocean environment.