What is a coast and its importance - Iczmpwb.org

Acropora monticulosa
Coral Reef Ecosystem
• Restricted to warm seas, essentially between the tropics of Cancer and Capricorn, where
minimum water temperature do not fall below 20ºC
• Their occurrence limited to 0.2% of the ocean area on the earth’s surface, have globally
important implication for their amazing marine biodiversity
• Providing critical habitats to approximately 25% of marine organisms
• Although various types of corals can be found from the water's surface to depths of 6,000 m,
reef- building corals are generally found at depths of less than 46 m, where sunlight penetrates.
• Massive corals grow from 0.5 cm to 2 cm per year. However, under favourable conditions (high
light exposure, consistent temperature, moderate wave action), some species can grow as
much as 4.5 cm per year. In contrast to the massive species, branching colonies can grow
vertically by as much as 10 cm per year.