Degradation of the Coral Reefs

Coral reefs are massive limestone structures, made from skeletons of millions of marine animals called coral polyps. As polyps die, new polyps grow on top and next to the dead ones. Many layers of skeletons from the dead polyps form the limestone structure of a coral reef. Other types of animals and plants also contribute to the structure such as: algae, sponge, and mollusks. They cover only 0.2% of the ocean floor and they are home …

…to be left behind and admired for their beauty. For now, the researchers are trying to find new ways in preventing the extinction of the coral ecosystem. They are creating reef reserves in which they take about 1,000 eggs and sperm and grow them on ceramic tiles in stainless steel racks bolted to the reef, where the test-tile babies begin forming colonies. Scientists hope to transfer them onto the reef to replace the dying coral polyps.