Coral reefs are immensely beautiful structures, but there is more to this natural wonder than meets the eye. Apart from being beautiful, they possess a huge range of unique and essential creatures living in them. They are actually essential components of the aquatic ecosystem. This article explores the various essential functions carried out by coral reefs

1. They act as a home for thousands of unique and endangered species of life:

For example, the Great Barrier Reef contains over 400 coral species, 1500 fish species, 4000 mollusk species, and a majority of the worlds different turtle species. Thus, the elimination of reefs from the oceans will be extremely detrimental when it comes to preserving biodiversity.

2. They  have unimaginable economic importance: 

According to the Natural History Museum, Coral reefs globally have a combined value of nearly 6 trillion pounds ! This figure starts to make sense when you consider the countless benefits reefs provide to the fishing and tourism industries of various coastal countries.

3. They are the source of nitrogen and other essential nutrients for marine food chains: 

Marine ecosystems are known to fluctuate greatly due to human sewage dumping, oil spills or other forms of water pollution by humans. However, Coral reefs minimize the harmful effects by regulating the nutrient content of the nearby ocean and actually producing some essential nutrients themselves.

Thus, we have clearly established that coral reefs are an integral part of the aquatic ecosystem, and if they disappear due to thermal pollution and dangerous fishing practices, there will be nothing short of harsh consequences. I hope this article makes you think twice before polluting the ocean !