In the marine world, coral reefs tend to be the most diverse and productive communities on Earth. They are rare and exotic and are found in various locations around the world. Their optimal living conditions are in the warm, clear, shallow waters of tropical oceans worldwide. Most coral reefs live to serve particular functions ranging from providing food and shelter to fish and invertebrates to protecting the shore from erosion. Many fish also rely on coral reefs for their own survival.
Most coral reefs have a symbiotic relationship with a certain type of algae that allows them to feed and reproduce to expand their own population. Reef-building corals are the source of primary production in reef communities. A lot of people enjoy going to these exotic locations to catch a glimpse of the natural beauty in coral reefs. However, for those that cannot make the trek to see coral reefs, there are easy ways to create your own coral in your very own home. There are many species of reef-building coral that help to keep the communities alive. Approximately 6,000 species of these types of coral reefs exist. Coral reefs of the western Pacific are much more diverse than those of the Atlantic and in the Caribbean. There are up to 75% more genera and 85% more species of corals in Pacific waters. Most coral reefs are formed by calcium carbonate produced by tiny coral polyps. While coral tends to be the largest contributor to the creation of coral reefs, they are not the only ones. There are certain types of algae that help to bond different parts of the coral together, and smaller mollusks and crustaceans also provide their hard skeletons to contribute to many coral reefs. There are many ways in which the different creatures in coral reefs work together to help build the reef.
