They play an essential role in sustaining life in the sea and serve as a source of food and protection for human communities. But coral reefs face an uncertain future. As a result of growing human and environmental assaults, reefs are among the most threatened ecosystems on earth. Ecological research provides information fundamental to understanding and combating this trend. Coral reefs are the most diverse communities on the planet.
Coral reefs are one of the oldest continuous environments on Earth.
Similar marine communities have existed for hundreds of thousands of years. Most of the reefs we see now have been growing for over 5,000 years. Coral reefs are found within the jurisdiction of more than 100 countries and occupy more than 600,000 square kilometers of tropical oceans. They generally require clear, warm water and high light intensity for survival. This limits them to shallow water, with maximum diversity occurring between 10 to 30 meters below the surface.