Hard coral is just the opposite. The skeleton is hard and stony. Some examples of hard coral are pillar, cabbage, brain, plate, and bubble coral. Coral reef zones are home to one quarter of all marine plants and animals. Nearly a million species of fish, crabs, eels, mollusks, sponges, worms, grasses, algae, and other marine animals live on reefs and use them as nurseries to protect their young.
Corals also provide natural filtration of seawater for their neighbors.
The reef ecosystems support vast fishers that people, especially coastal nations, depend upon for their protein. Collapse of this ecosystem could mean famine. Coral reefs are truly one of the most beautiful biomes. Future generations may not have the opportunity to see them. Coral reefs around the world are being damaged and destroyed at an increased rate.