Coral Reef Diversity

A variety of living species can be found in any particular region, ecosystem, planet and more which is known as Biodiversity. Rapid environmental changes typically cause mass extinctions. It has been observed that more than 99.9 % of all species that ever lived on Earth are expected to be extinct.

However biodiversity is not evenly distributed and varies greatly across the globe as well as within regions. The biodiversity mainly depends on temperature, precipitation, altitude, soils, geography and the presence of other species. Coral reefs are considered to be the highest biodiversity of any ecosystem on the planet, even more than a tropical rainforest. About twenty-five per cent of the marine life depends on coral reefs. There are colourful fishes of many shapes that are created by the dazzling shapes of corals, colourful sponges and other reef-building organisms. Fortunately few divers might catch a glimpse of a shark around the reef or a turtle soaring across the landscape of colours. An estimated six million fishermen in 99 reef countries and territories worldwide are harvest from coral reefs. The biodiversity of reefs can also be appreciated simply for the wonder and amazement it inspires. We can find vibrant, bright, spotted fishes with stripes and various patterned fish swimming in and around coral reefs. Some of these are famous for eating different kinds of algae to save corals from being destroyed by deadly competitors. A new study by University of Arizona doctoral student Elizabeth Miller has reported that Indo-Pacific coral reefs have been able to accumulate their richness of fish species only because they had the time to do so. Coral reefs are believed to face an uncertain future pollution, climate change and overfishing. Miller proved that until now it was wrongly believed that tropical coral reefs, similar to tropical rain forests, are hot spots of biodiversity because of an intrinsic propensity to diversify into more species than other regions. It was found that frequent environmental upheaval results in overall biodiversity being lower in colder ocean regions. John Wiens, UA Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology, says “Unfortunately, the high diversity of reef fish in the Coral Triangle may soon disappear because of the impacts of human-induced climate change on coral reefs”.  Without the reef-building corals, like Staghorn or Elkhorn, there is no reef habitat. To save reefs in the future, these reef-builders will need to adapt. Fortunately, scientific research shows us that corals can adapt to changing climates.

By: Anuja Arora

Content: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2018/11/181108130514.htm