| Coral Reef |
| Coral reefs build up around the calcium carbonate
skeletons of marine organisms called polyps, which grow in clear, shallow
tropical waters. They fringe continental shores, such as the Great Barrier
Reef of Australia and mid-ocean islands, such as in the South Pacific,
where great thicknesses of coral material have built up above eroded or
sinking volcanic islands. The coral growth keeps the living part of the
reef within a few metres of the sea surface. One-third of all fish species
find shelter and food around coral reefs and they have been called "the
rainforests of the sea".
Great Barrier Reef, Australia
Coral reefs off Mackay, Queensland, Australia |
