The coral reef is a unique and very rich ecosystem which supports a vast array of animal and plant species. The fisheries dependent on coral reefs have supported many cultures for ages.
Corals form the structural and ecological foundation of the reef system.
These organisms provide their hosts with oxygen and a portion of the organic compounds they produce through photosynthesis. When stressed, many reef inhabitants have been observed to expel their zooxanthallae en masse. The polyps of the coral are left bereft of pigmentation and appear nearly transparent on the animal's white skeleton. This phenomenon is normally referred to as coral bleaching. More severe bleaching events have dramatic long-term effects on the coral.