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Corals are animals that live in a symbiotic relationship with algae. The algae provide food and the coral provide shelter. As corals die, their hard exoskeletons remain and build up year after year. This makes the reef strong and sturdy and provides habitat and shelter for many colorful fish and invertebrates such as shrimp and crab. Under certain conditions, for example, high temperatures, the algae are expelled from the coral leaving it with no food, a problem that can lead to coral bleaching.  Repeated intensive bleaching events, such as those experienced at the Great Barrier Reef in Australia recently, may be irreversible, leading to the disappearance of many reef ecosystems. 

Sources: 

• Ainsworth, T. D., Heron, S. F., Ortiz, J. C., Mumby, P. J., Grech, A., Ogawa, D., Eakin, C. M., & Leggat, W. (2016). Climate change disables coral bleaching protection on the Great Barrier Reef. Science, 352(6283), 338–342. https://doi.org/10.1126/science.aac7125 

• Environmental Protection Agency. (n.d.). EPA. Retrieved April 21, 2023, from https://www.epa.gov/coral-reefs/basic-information-about-coral-reefs#:~:text=Coral%20reefs%20provide%20habitat%20for,%2C%20mangrove%2C%20and%20mudflat%20communities. 

• Montereybayaquarium.org. (n.d.). Retrieved April 21, 2023, from https://www.montereybayaquarium.org/animals/habitats/coral-reefs 

For people living along the coast, marine ecosystems provide a source of sustenance and income but can also be dangerous due to the possibility of shoreline flooding. Fishers provide food and income for their families. This can be disrupted if their homes are destroyed due to flooding. Coral reefs can provide a break in the water protecting the shore from waves and coastal erosion. With climate change, increased intensity of storms, and the consequent degradation of coral reefs, that protection can be reversed. 

Sources:

• Elliff, C. I., & Silva, I. R. (2017). Coral reefs as the first line of Defense: Shoreline Protection in face of climate change. Marine Environmental Research, 127, 148–154. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.marenvres.2017.03.007

• How do coral reefs protect lives and property? NOAA's National Ocean Service. (2014, March 1). Retrieved April 21, 2023, from https://oceanservice.noaa.gov/facts/coral_protect.html#:~:text=Coral%20reefs%20provide%20a%20buffer,%2C%20property%20damage%2C%20and%20erosion. 

• Role of reefs in coastal protection. Role of Reefs in Coastal Protection | U.S. Geological Survey. (n.d.). Retrieved April 28, 2023, from https://www.usgs.gov/centers/pcmsc/science/role-reefs-coastal-protection