Staghorn corals form the forests of the reef. The lights of the camera bring out the brilliant colors of the reef. Sponges, corals and many other attached species compete for space on the reef. This temperate reef off North Carolina has hard corals and tropical fish. Coastal North Carolina 1993 August 134.
Scientists study reefs for many reasons, economic and ecologic.
Staghorn coral towers above reef creating habitat and beach protection. Demosponges and coralline algae on a permanent photo plot. 1984 August 137. Diversity on cold rocky reefs can also be very high. Starfish and anemones in a cold water rocky community.