Why Are Coral Reefs Hotspots of Life in the Ocean?

Abstract

The tropical ocean contains very little food or nutrients. Like life in a desert, life in the tropical ocean is dicult for all organisms. Yet, coral reefs are colorful oases full of life in the middle of this marine desert. How can millions of species call coral reefs their home? All organisms living there play their roles in recycling the small amounts of food and nutrients that are available. Because nothing is ever truly wasted, coral reefs can flourish in a marine desert that has hardly any food. Although coral reefs existed on this planet long before the dinosaurs, they are facing serious problems today. Warming oceans can harm corals, leading to the loss of coral reefs. However, corals in the northern Red Sea are very resistant to warm temperatures. Some scientists believe that these Red Sea reefsmay be able to survive even when reefs are disappearing elsewhere around the world.