Threat of Coral reefs to Ecosystem

While coral reefs are sensitive to environmental changes, they appear to be able to recover effectively from physical disturbance or temporary pollution events provided the water quality is generally high. For example, the corals in Kaneohe Bay, Hawaii, for the most part recovered from severe overgrowth of algae after sewage inputs were diverted away from the Bay. The world has woken up to the magnitude of the problem and has taken steps to halt this degradation of one of the richest eco systems.

The Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora, or CITES, has classified many corals as threatened species. The establishment of marine sanctuaries or preserves may help ensure the availability of this ecosystem in the years to come. The Great Barrier Reef Marine Park was established in 1975 and is the largest project undertaken to preserve the coral reef in the world. Initiatives for the preservation of coral reefs in India have been undertaken on a large scale in the Wandur Marine National Park in the Andaman Nicobar islands.

People on their part can play a role in preventing this depletion. Corals should not be collected, either alive or dead. All waste should be treated before it is released into the sea and no waste is to be dumped directly into the water. Once this awareness is built in the people the well being of these reefs can be ensured. The coral reef ecosystem is a diverse collection of species that interact with each other and the physical environment. The numerous species residing and depending on coral reefs represent a bank containing the genetic diversity necessary for adaptation to changes in the environment.

Sponges have been an important part of the coral reef ecosystem. Sea anemones provide shelter to the fish and other creatures in the reefs. Fishes play a vital role in the reef's food web, acting as both predators and prey. Bryozoans are microscopic invertebrates that form branching colonies over coral skeletons and reef debris, cementing the reef structure. The reef is also home to a variety of worms, shrimps, crabs, lobsters, starfish, sea cucumbers, and sea urchins. Octopuses, squids, clams, scallops, marine snails, and also some species of sharks, skates, and rays live on or near the reef.