CORAL REEFS and MANGROVES: Significant to Living Things

Coral Reefs

Coral reefs are often hailed as the rainforests of the sea and for anyone, coral reefs can be termed as a type of living, marine organisms which secrete calcium carbonate, over a long period of time, to form a hard outer skeletal covering. Many people assume coral reefs to be plants or rocks, however they are the polyps who grow along in large groups and in large areas. Polyps are tiny, cylindrical marine habitats. For layman, coral reefs can be best understood to be a group of polyps that grow together. Similar to shellfish, they're invertebrates and have no internal bones. Coral reefs can reproduce either sexually or asexually. Fringing reefs, barrier reefs and coral atolls are the three main types of coral reefs. Now, let's understand the importance of coral reefs as their life is important for the Earth's survival.

Importance of Coral Reefs 

#1: Sustaining Tropical Marine Ecosystems
     Coral reefs form an important part of the tropical marine biology. The coral reefs maintain a balance of life with the mangrove and sea grass ecosystems near the coastal shores. Many marine creatures spend their lives in moving from mangrove ecosystems to sea grass beds and then coral reefs, thereby transferring nutrients and connecting life. Mangrove trees are known to grow to a height of 15 meters and their roots are always in proximity to the shores. The root systems serve as a source of underground water ecosystem for marine animals. Sea grass beds are found in totally shallow bays. The coral reefs lying at the bottom, protect the mangrove trees and sea grass beds from erosion by the waves.

#2: Primary Producers

     According to biologists, primary productivity is described as the storing of organic and inorganic compounds by the process of photosynthesis. Like trees and plants are known to reduce our carbon levels, corals also help in reducing the effects of CO₂. Coral reefs support the food chain by being a food for tropical fish and other marine animals that serve as food for animals, higher in the food chain. This maintains the balance of the ecosystem. 

#3: Tourism

     Coral reef destinations are recognized as the biggest tourist attractions, especially on islands like Maldives and Jamaica who totally depend on coral reefs for their economy. Not surprising that the Great Barrier Reef in Australia, the world's largest coral reef ecosystem .Though coral reef tourism is believed to be an alternative source of income for the poor coastal communities.

#4: Coastal Protection

     The disastrous hurricanes and tsunamis that sweep off life and property, in the blink of an eye, are lessened in their impact by coral reefs. Coral reefs are known to break the power of waves and reduce their intensity, thereby protecting coastal areas from destruction. Coral reefs can be called as nature's defense mechanism to prevent coastal soil erosion and flooding.

#5: Fisheries
     The fishing industry and the common income source for the fishermen in the coastal areas is heavily dependent on the coral reefs. The coral reefs provide shelter, nutrition and habitat to almost a quarter of the world's fish.

#6: Medicinal Research
     A major breakthrough in the treatment of HIV infections is the medicine AZT that is based on the chemicals found in sponge reefs in the Caribbean and it highlights the potential of medicinal value of coral reefs. Pharmaceutical companies have targeted coral reefs for medicines on cancer and other terminal diseases.

#7: Cultural Significance
     Coral reefs are worshiped as life sustaining organisms in innumerable cultures around the world. Most significant are the islands of Fiji, where coral reefs and their waters are thanked through ceremonies and prayers. In Fiji, the traditional reef management system has worked wonders and has sustained marine habitat ever since its existence. For Fiji, coral reefs are a symbol of life and reverence and same is true for many other cultures around the world.

Coral reefs are facing many threats by mankind. Sometimes humans cause intentional and even unintentional damage to the corals and the coral reefs without ever realizing the effects of the actions. We can make a difference to the environment with every step we take. The coral reefs and Mother Earth would benefit largely if we will do steps and actions that may preserve the beauty of these reefs.

Mangroves

Mangroves are trees and shrubs that grow in tropical and subtropical tidelands throughout the world. Mangroves grow in areas that are frequently inundated with salt water due to tidal activity of gulfs, seas and oceans. Mangroves are able to thrive salt water inundation because of specialized rooting structures, specialized reproduction (vivipary or live birth) and the ability to exclude or excrete salt. Mangroves grow exclusively in these tidal areas in large stands or groves to where these areas are referred to as their own ecological community, collectively called mangroves.

WHY ARE MANGROVES IMPORTANT?

The mangrove community is valued for its protection and stabilization of lowlying coastal lands and its importance in estuarine and coastal fishery food chains. Mangrove forests protect uplands from storm winds, waves, and floods. The amount of protection afforded by mangroves depends upon the width of the forest. Mangroves can help prevent erosion by stabilizing shorelines with their specialized root systems.

IMPORTANCE OF MANGROVES

1. Shoreline Protection

   Mangroves protect shorelines from erosion

   Mangroves protect shorelines from damaging storm and hurricane winds, waves, and floods. Mangroves also help prevent erosion by stabilizing sediments with their tangled root systems. They maintain water quality and clarity, filtering pollutants and trapping sediments originating from land.
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   2. Nursery

   Mangroves serve as valuable nursery areas for fish and invertebrates

   Serving as valuable nursery areas for shrimp, crustaceans, mollusks, and fishes, mangroves are a critical component of Florida's commercial and recreational fishing industries. These habitats provide a rich source of food while also offering refuge from predation.
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   

   Mangroves Support Threatened and Endangered Species

   In addition to commercially important species, mangroves also support a number of threatened and endangered species. 
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   3. Renewable Resource

   Mangroves are utilized in many parts of the world as a renewable resource

   In other parts of the world, people have utilized mangrove trees as a renewable resource. Harvested for durable, water-resistant wood, mangroves have been used in building houses, boats, pilings, and furniture. The wood of the black mangrove and buttonwood trees has also been utilized in the production of charcoal. Tannins and other dyes are extracted from mangrove bark. Leaves have been used in tea, medicine, livestock feed, and as a substitute for tobacco for smoking. In Florida, beekeepers have set up their hives close to mangroves in order to use the nectar in honey production. 
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   

   Why should we protect mangroves?

   Mangroves, admittedly, are not only important but crucial for the coastal areas. Since estuarine areas are highly populated areas, the slightest ecological imbalance will take a heavy toll. They play a vital role in stabilizing these areas. No engineering and technological solutions can be sought for stabilizing these areas. Even if we negate all benefits of mangroves as forests, their value as "protector of shore-line" is enough to convince us for conserving them.