Coral Reef Marine Ecosystem

Marine biome built by aragonite structures of reef-building corals, the rainforests of the sea.

Core Principles & Analysis

• Built over centuries by coral polyps secreting aragonite calcium carbonate skeletons.
• Supports roughly 25% of marine species on less than 1% of the ocean floor.
• Reef corals depend on symbiotic zooxanthellae algae, which are expelled during heat-driven bleaching.

Specifications & Metrics

• COVERAGE: <1% of ocean floor, 25% of marine species