Coral
Coral is a marine creature in the class Anthozoa and can be divided into two groups a group that secrete and lay down a hard exoskeleton of calcium carbonate, they are the reef builders, developers the much loved "forests of the sea". The other group is the soft corals which have an inner skeleton. Both types of coral have a symbiotic relationship with the photosynthetic algae zooxanthellae which are what give the corals their bright colours, they provide the algae with nutrients and the algae provides the corals with much needed oxygen.
Both corals and the reef system are of great importance to biodiversity, as they are well known as one of the most diverse ecosystems along with tropical rain forest and they provide many other benefits to humans and their livelihood. They are a natural barrier to storm damage, they generate an income for coastal communities through tourism and it has also been indicated that they may be a source for anti-cancer, anti-inflammatory and antibiotic drugs.
Both corals and the reef system are of great importance to biodiversity, as they are well known as one of the most diverse ecosystems along with tropical rain forest and they provide many other benefits to humans and their livelihood. They are a natural barrier to storm damage, they generate an income for coastal communities through tourism and it has also been indicated that they may be a source for anti-cancer, anti-inflammatory and antibiotic drugs.