Species Endangerd (MS-Blog Series from) / X

The Coral Reefs

Class: Anthozoa

Order: Various (sub-) order/class

Latin name: -/-

Range: Generally the reefs exist mostly at warmer latitudes/on Oceans like Pacific, Caribbean, and Red seas (The largest and most renown probably are Great Barrier Reef (near Australia) and Coral triangle (on Indo-Malaya archipelagos)

IUCN Status: Not listed as they are actually marine environments...But globally threatened.

CITES: Not checked...But several coral species/coral polypes probably prohibited from collecting.

(about... 2000's situation)

There's an unestimated amount of life-form and species at the Oceans of the world. As our original purpose in these series was represent also some examples of the fish (sometimes said that contain procentually the largest number of them include for the threatened species), would have been suitable to present at least few of them. But, we haven't too excessively time on this and, possibly, that would also have required having more particular knowledge, ao. So, on this basis it's only logical selection to select the reefs – and they well represent the variety of life of the seas. (Even more so, since some estimates seem say/predict that reefs could suffer further 20-30 per cent loss at just during following 30-40 years time).

Like renown, the life originally begun on seas and the corals as well have existed through distant periods of time. Nowadays they're probably more threatened than ever before during their existence through several past millions years. Although, on some previous periods the reefs have also undergone periods of their almost complete destruction (like larger parts from marine life, in during the so called former mass extinction events). Yet, they still survive on our times. So, on the basis of this, the modern man-made threats considering it's no underestimate if we say them (reefs) nowadays could classify – on similar category as the formerly listed animal species examples – for the EN (Endangered); however, on criteria of their histories of slow gradual growth and larger parts of marine life they sustain, classification as Critically endangered would, perhaps, appear no less correct and quite justified.

(Whatever the opinion of that - feels maybe little like drawing lines on water - the Oceans in general are source of the uncomparable diversity of life, multiple times that what exists on lands. And the reefs obviously form some of the most impressive part of that.)

Contrary to sometimes common belief, the corals are organic animal life-forms (not plants or rocks). They often appear form large areas with complex structures which have in time grown for the known oceanic reefs, particularly on warmer latitudes, and usually at areas closer the (shallow) coastal sea. (The Coral Triangle alone is estimated to contain about a one third from area of all coral reefs at seas.)

The reefs provide important and flourishing environments for greatest number of fish on most anywhere, for other animals as well, non-vertebrate and fx the sea plant. It is estimated that closer half of the fish living on reefs are dependable on the existence of corals for food, shelter and also on their reproduction. Seems stated as well that the reefs probably support highest biodiversity in the world (it been occasionally estimated that they possibly support about a quarter of all the marine species found on Oceans.) For humans they appear important on uses as fishing areas and of other subsistence needs, ao.

Since any of that oceanic life would appear probably too vast an area to represent on this (probably we haven't too much of a knowledge either), it suffices us list some species that appear to commonly presented favorites at marine biology (TV-) series. (But as that life of reefs is said so abundant and fx colourful, the films and pics, like often noticed, only show a pale reflection from it. Maybe any hobbyist of the deep sea diving, fx , would have a lot more catching stories to tell...) Anyway, for some most usual species presented on those and, perhaps more typical on certain reefs, are the colourful Clown fish (Amphirimidae) – they are renown of the manner of living at rare kind of symbiosis with the Sea anemones (the clown fish receive cover and protection of the anemones, but the 'sea plants' tentacles can be appear danger for some other fish, occasionally it even catches the prey from the clown-fish, it said).

As well as the fish, there's many colourful and numerous species on the 'marine plants' (but all of those in the following actually are animals adapted to living on sea bottom). Fx, for the better known species from echinodermata (apparently) belong also the Sea lilies (of the genus crinoidea), and as well the holochteroidea. The former especially appear numerous on coral reef, and they also represent species that move slowly on the sea floors. As well, somewhat similarly species adapted to various depths at seas, but also some usually seen on coastal reefs, are the Sea urchins – there's at least about 1000 different species of them, several are common on reefs (their thorns can be of considerable harm and it's better avoid stepping on some). However they're also very enduring animals, some species dig - with the patience, the process lasting many years – their places of stay on fx rocks  surface (and even at steel balks on harbours). Along with the mentioned, there are countless number of the fish, marine mammals and the reptilian; dugong (probably), manatee, sea turtles, fx, etc.

The main straight-forward threats of the reefs consist fx over-fishing and other human caused harms. Over-fishing can (very potentially) affect the reefs natural ecology and cause changes at species relations which then maybe further result for changes at their ecology. However, humans have fished on much of these places as long as they've practised that elsewhere, so the most harmful impacts are perhaps newer from origin. Some of those are poison fishing, use of paralyzing chemicals to catch collectible species and fishing with explosives (where often the reefs coral and other species get destructed as well). (Both practices sometimes said common on some areas at the Coral Triangle, ao.) Similarly, there's more typical pollution and fx the agricultural pesticides gathering on water flowing to coastal waters, etc. Also, the building projects on coasts, often cause destruction of reefs as co-result. And other things, oil spills and ships traffic, the garbage and thrash thrown on waters, etc.

Yet, the 'newer' noticed harms, and what may (potentially) threaten most reefs on the oceans, is said possibly to emerge as consequence of increased the GHS-emissions. As consequences within accumulation of atmospheric gases that dissolve on seas, the acidification level of waters follows to grow, or precisely leads for the reduction on Ocean water Ph. That slows  growth of the coral, and possibly can cause their complete destruction (on places at least). Or, so that was said some time ago, mostly it been said affecting for calcification forming organism, typically coral polypes. How severely and how rapidly such effect could take place may be is not yet that well known, at least it's somewhat unsure how the scenario may appear on different sea environments , etc. But even if it not yet proven a scenario, some of the adverse effects of the sea water warming are found form the coral bleaching, which is known having caused general degradation on corals and their disappearances from (more or less large) area. Although, the phenomenon also is relatively new from it's (known) origins, and wasn't yet too much recognized until about the 1970s.

Because there's probably emerged further knowledge from many of the above aspects (that we've had no time to check), it is advisable and easy to view that on elsewhere. Anyway, according to what we find said, the reefs appearance are generally believed to change from their current days form, resulting most because of the warming (at some time-scale). Some of the changes, and as main disadvantages mentioned may (likely) be the losses on their protectivity against storms impacts and the reefs recreational value may also reduce and/or lead for loss in the fisheries.

It's also said some coastal eco-systems formed by the mangroves and seagrasses are known to interact and with reefs to some level, and somewhat dependent of their healthy conditions, on them too. Mangroves on coastal areas have, during some recent decades, been destroyed on many areas and/or been turned for human production needs, aquacultures and agricultural use, ao. They are said some of the most heavily stressed (tropical) coastal areas. But it's probably beyond our understanding how much many of mentioned changes (so far) have affected the reefs existence, and likely there's also some newer knowledge been generated from these things. Anyway, the mangroves and seagrasses on coastal areas are said being important carbon sinks, comparable to role of rain forests on that (even that they consist much smaller geographical areas).

More generally appears that the seas, been considered as filters for all kinds of pollutants longer times until our time, often reveal the real damages only when some of that emerges to be seen as more visibly seen as problems and destruction...fortunate aspect may be that seas generally make largest parts of the worlds surface area, so they also still contain much what has prevailed (even) outside human purposes and efforts to make uses from. As the reefs ecology and adaptavity is not too well known it's also possible that them may appear more durable, of some forms or at areas. However, they're also often noticed probably most vulnerable eco-systems of the seas for effect of predicted climate change. Unfortunately them appear also the most flourishing, or most easily reachable part of that flourishment for humans. Humans, of course, have all the possibilities to change much of the past false ways on their uses natures for the better (and for more enduring ways).

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