Coral Reef Ecology

Coral reefs are some of the most valuable ecosystems on the planet. While they cover only about 0.1% of the ocean floor, they are home to at least a quarter of all marine species and support approximately 4,000 species of fish and 800 types of corals. ref The calcium carbonate deposited by each individual coral polyp holds coral colonies together and contributes to the formation of reef structures which can span 1,000s of kilometers and can be seen from space.

However, their value extends well beyond their biological diversity, as they provide countless goods and services to the coastal communities that depend on them. Examples of these services include fisheries, tourism and recreation, shoreline protection, social connections, and sources of medicinal compounds. ref

Coral reef on Dadu Island at Palmyra Atoll in the equatorial Northern Pacific. Photo © Tim Calver

This toolkit provides information on coral biology, coral bleaching biology, the biogeography of coral reefs, key biological interactions coral reefs, and other connected systems. For more in-depth information, take the Introduction to Coral Reef Management Online Course Lesson 1: Coral Reef Ecology.