Coral reefs provide ideal habitats for allπ₩ kinds of marine life. When you mentio★↔n coral reefs, you may thin"↓'k that they are tropical rain fores≈§αts in the ocean. They are very rich in bi ≈βδological species and resources, and ar↑₽ ✔e one of the most unique and iΩ↓mportant ecosystems in the world.
Coral reefs are very important to marine l$®ife and are equally important to humans≠→. Here are 7 aspects of your connect∑♣≠$ion to coral reefs:
01
food
The fish that live on coral re≤≈'efs provide a substantial source of foo↑d for about half a billion people in the worl£'&d. Even if you live far from the coast, chaΩΩ nces are that the fish you eat comes from co'δδral reefs. More than 4,000 species of fish dep✘<end on coral reefs, and it is estimated that hea®§lthy reefs can supplβ₩§y 15 tons of fish per sq↑≠₹uare kilometer each year.
02
livelihood
Coral reefs are important tourism λ≥↑×resources. Millions of snorkelers and scuba d¶ivers flock to the reef each year to enjo↑✘δ♦y the beauty of the reef, and many touriγ€sts enjoy the reef-protected ₩sandy beaches, providing an array of hot∏≥els, restaurants, etc. ×γ←αopened by submarines₩≤ and service centres Tourism livelihood&±.
03
Protect
While storms and waves can erode coasts, daλ ∑mage property or threaten life, coral re♦∏₹ efs act as a buffer against storms and waves, an≈d the complex shape o><f coral reefs and the undδ→©erwater "barrier>Ωs" they build help reduce the intens•₩β ity of wave impacts. As climat✘>↔e change intensifies and storms occur mor✔§∏e frequently and with greater ≤₩intensity, the protection of coral reefs is i€≈←ncreasingly important.
04
Medicine
Compounds are currently being discover↓↑♣ed from many species living on coral reefs€ε✘∞ and used to develop new me™₹&£dicines and nutritional supplement✔¶s. While scientists h&π↑♦ave been studying forests th↔π∏is way for decades, only in recent yearsσ₩₹> have they begun to explore the possibilit πσ≠ies coral reefs offer for medical ↕βresearch.
05
Culture
For those who live on t↔€∏δhe shores of coral reefs or who have ev$γ₹δer dived to see the wo♣←nders of coral reefs, the value of coral reef♥→s cannot be measured in money↑↕¥ . In addition to providing ∞♣us with the above resource∞↔s and services, coral reefs also wonderfull≥ ↑βy demonstrate the beauty a♠π>nd beauty of life on earth. Complexity. I≥↓φf you've ever seen a coral rαπeef in person, you probably have♦♥ the feeling that the presence™£ of coral reefs makes the world a ≤∞more spectacular place.
06
Filter water
Coral reefs help prevent near€✘-shore waters from bein↕✔g polluted. Many corals and Ω&✘sponges are filter feed§≥γers that consume particulate matter (w∞Ωater-insoluble pollutan☆'÷ts) in the water, preventing them from •♣£settling on the seafl€δπoor and releasing harmful substances tha≠™t pollute the ocean. Next time you swim ↓™₩ in the ocean, don't forget to than♥πk the coral reefs for he∏ε lping us keep our oceans clean!
07
Beach
It is generally believed that the sand on the σ←≥beach is the product of broken '™§✘shells, but coral reefs also contribute to th≠≠≤σe formation of the beach. In fact, most of th∑₹σe sand on the beach is the product of brokenγ©∞ coral skeletons. In addition, some♠★ reef-dwelling organisms ingest coral and expelδ≠∏ sand, for example, a large parrotfish → is estimated to produce a ton of sand per₩α year!
Source: UNEP
The picture comes from the Internet