World Reef Day

Today is World Reef Day!

What is a coral reef, you may ask? Well, a coral reef is actually a colony of coral polyps that are all held together by a substance called calcium carbonate. These reefs grow best in well-lit shallow, clear, and sunny waters. Corals have been around for about 500 million years. They're little invertebrates that feed on fish using stinging tentacles.

The most famous reef is the Great Barrier Reef, in Australia. This reef is over 20,000 years old and is made up of nearly 3,000 singular reefs. It also stretches around 1,400 miles and covers about 133,000 square feet. It's actually visible from space. 

So, what do reefs...do, exactly? Well, reefs have been described as the rainforests of the sea. What that means is that they are important for oceanic ecosystems. That's because these reefs provide support for about 25% of all known oceanic species. They can also provide natural barriers against erosion.

Reefs are very sensitive to changes in water, so it's very easy to place them in danger. Sadly, they have a lot of hazards. Waters getting increasingly warmer and more acidic, coral bleaching, pollution, among others. But efforts have been made to save reefs because of their importance to marine life. You can learn more here.

Thanks for reading this blog entry! See you next time!