This can’t go on forever because once coral reefs are damaged, they will fail to support the marine creatures inhabiting the area and would lose value as tourist destinations. Mangroves, seagrass beds, and coral reefs are often found together and work in concert. In this way, they help to reduce the amount of flooding and erosion of the land. Coral reefs are important for a number of reasons. Why are the coral reefs important? Without hawksbills, sponges can overgrow and suffocate slow-growing corals causing them to die. Coral reef plants and animals are important sources of new medicines being developed to treat cancer, arthritis, human bacterial infections, heart disease, viruses, and other diseases. Every year, scuba divers, snorkelers, and fishermen visit U.S. coral reefs to enjoy their abundant sea life. The study of coral reef environments has always been quite far behind the study of other environments like rainforests. In the future, coral reef ecosystems could represent an increasingly important source of medical treatments, nutritional supplements, pesticides, cosmetics, and other commercial products. AN Habitat. Coral reefs are also very important to people. Since most reefs thrive in shallow waters due to access to natural light, they are able to act as natural barriers for coastal regions. When reefs are damaged or destroyed, the absence of this natural barrier can increase the damage to coastal communities from normal wave action and violent storms. For nutrition, corals mostly depend on the by-product of the algal photosynthesis process. They provide feeding grounds, nursery areas, living space, and places to hide from predators for an enormous assortment of fish and invertebrates like grouper and lobster. In developing countries, the reef is said to contribute to one-quarter of the total fish catch providing food resources for tens of millions of people. Best Answers. Beyond their intrinsic value and the roles they play in supporting vast numbers of marine species, coral reefs also provide a plethora of functions that benefit humans. About 500 million people around the globe rely on coral reefs for food, income, and coastal defense. In a similar vein, one of the earliest modern medicines obtained from corals contributed to the development of the antiviral drugs Ara-A and AZT, as well as the anticancer agent Ara-C. Coral reefs are important for many different reasons aside from supposedly containing the most diverse ecosystems on the planet. A lot of tourism depends on the natural environment, and coral reefs can be considered the poster child of nature-based tourism. Coral reefs account for one-third of all biodiversity in the oceans and are vital to humanity. Coral reefs play an important role in other creatures’ lives. Therefore, the health of coral reefs depends on sustainable human uses that promote economic development while protecting sensitive coral ecosystems and the creatures that reside there. This includes food from fishing, protection of coastlines from erosion, and even medical discoveries such as medicines for cancer. The Importance of Coral Reefs. After all, the impact of storms and human activity are recorded in changes in coral growth. Since they extend tens of meters into the ocean, they’re effective in absorbing elements from the ocean and reducing coastal erosion. As much as85 percent of the air we breathe comes from marine plants. Additionally coral reefs provide humans with vital protection from waves, hurricanes and even tsunamis. Reefs are home to a wide range of marine organisms. Tourism is one of the world’s largest industries, contributing significantly to the global economy. Scientists are conducting research on the potential of these substances because they represent an important source of medical treatment and nutritional supplements. These were developed from sponge extracts found in a Caribbean reef. Home / Articles / Why are coral reefs important Why are coral reefs important. Even something as small as practicing proper waste disposal and educating ourselves about the possible threats to marine life can go a long way in preserving the coral reefs we depend on so much. Coral Reefs. The importance of coral reefs also has a significant impact on human populations. Reef species comprise roughly a quarter of all fish caught in the developing world and island communities. Thousands of … Once coral reefs are damaged, they are less able to support the many creatures that inhabit them. The value of coral reefs has been estimated at 30 billion U.S. dollars and perhaps as much as 172 billion U.S. dollars each year, providing food, protection of shorelines, jobs based on tourism, and even medicines. In fact, coral reefs are some of the oldest and most diverse ecosystems on the planet. , and the like—account for $16 billion a year. Marine lifeforms take shelter in corals because they provide nitrogen, assist in carbon fixing, and provide other essential nutrients. Reefs are home to a wide range of marine organisms. More importantly, the absence of reefs would leave thousands of marine species without a home. Coral reefs are considered to be one of the most diverse and valuable ecosystems on earth. They protect coastlines from the damaging effects of wave action and tropical storms provide habitats and shelter for many marine organisms Coral reefs are an important food source for the people who live near the reefs and are crucial for worlds fisheries providing them with a significant source of protein. From the U.S. Geological Survey: Coral Reefs Provide Critical Coastal Protection. read more. Coral reefs are some of the most diverse ecosystems in the world. Fish, corals, lobsters, clams, seahorses, sponges, sharks, and sea turtles are only a few of the hundreds of thousands of creatures that rely on reefs for their survival. For nutrition, corals mostly depend on the by-product of the algal photosynthesis process. In the United States, coral reef ecosystems support hundreds of commercial and recreational fisheries worth millions of dollars to state and local economies. 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