Coral reefs are huge underwater structures and some of the most diverse ecosystems in the entire world. These incredible configurations are composed of the skeletons from colonial marine invertebrates called coral and about 25% of the ocean’s fish depend on healthy coral reefs to survive. Coral reefs can be found all over the world’s oceans, including in the Dominican Republic where they are extremely important for biodiversity, habitat, and beaches. Climate change is noticeably affecting coral reef ecosystems resulting in ocean acidification from increased greenhouse gases caused by human activity. When the oceans get warmer it causes thermal stress and this contributes to coral bleaching and disease.
→ Continue reading at Forbes
