Why are coral reefs such diverse ecosystems?
Coral reefs are the most diverse marine habitats and are beneficial to a variety of species. These species work together to benefit each other as well as the reef and other species. The symbiotic relationships among the various species are what keep these ecosystems thriving.FrameworkCoral reefs reflect waves, which allows the slow growth of the coral to take place. Algae, sponges and other organisms aid in the growth of the reefs.VarietyCoral reefs have many layers, providing shaded areas as well as highly illuminated areas. Because of the complexity, it is not unusual to see hundreds of species of fish, invertebrates and corals at one reef.Algae and CoralThe symbiotic relationship between algae and coral help build the reef. The algae provides oxygen for the coral while coral gives off carbon dioxide that the algae needs to conduct photosynthesis.FishSpecies of reef fish that contract parasites often allow other fish to pick off the parasites. This relationship provides one fish with
