Guide Note:
Living organisms produce aragonite structures called Coral Reefs. High levels of nutrients in marine waters can harm reefs because the nutrients encourage the growth of algae. Therefore, reefs are usually found in shallow tropical marine waters which contain very little or no nutrients.
Fast Facts:
- Coral Reefs are estimated to cover 284,300 square kilometres, with the Indo-Pacific region
- Coral Reefs are either restricted or absent from along the west coast
- Corals can get up to 90% of their nutrients from their zooxanthellae symbionts.
