Coral reefs are one of the most important marine communities in tropical and subtropical seas. Although coral reefs have been well described for over 100 years, it is only within the later half of this century that the global importance of reefs has become known. Only recently have scientists discovered the ways a reef can capture the energy of the sun and convert it into food and the ingenious ecological strategies which enable reefs to survive in the nutrient-poor waters of the tropical oceans. Acting as plant and animal simultaneously, corals convert solar energy into food, recycle wastes or nutrients and create the reef structure which is home to the world's most beautiful and diverse communities. Rainforests of the sea.
Coral reefs are among nature's most spectacular and beautiful creations.
Ranging in size from small patch reefs to the Great Barrier Reef in Australia, which stretches some 2000 km, many reefs dwarf our most architecturally ambitious structures. Like forests, reefs rank as one of the most complex and diverse ecosystems in the world. Coral reefs are home to a dazzling array of marine life, with nearly one million species, of which barely one tenth are known. Up to 3000 species may co-exist on a single coral reef. Diversity of fishes on reefs is 100 times greater than the ocean average.