This infographic document illustrates the details of coral reef. It contains importance, erosion and ways to protect of coral reef. All of these content are depicted by different types of symbolic icon to understand easily.

1. Importance
Coral
Reef
Corals are aquatic invertebrates. Normally, they build underwater structures which are called as coral reefs. The name of coral species who build reefs is “hermatypic”. They build reefs by
extracting calcium carbonate from seawater.
Coral reefs can survive in clear and clean
water. When the water becomes polluted
by pollutants or sediment, the growth of
harmful algae becomes faster, and the
water quality become lower.
Sometimes different kinds of land-based
pollution like urbanization, deforestation,
development of coastal areas, solid wastes
from industrial area can reduce the growth
and breeding of coral.
Effects
of
Definition
Ways to
protect coral
reefs:
A small portion of the sea floor is captured by coral reefs which is not
more than 0.2%. They can be found in the seabed of hundred countries
approximately and almost capture 150,000 kilometers of coastline.
About 275 million people live inside ten kilometers of a seashore
and around thirty kilometers from reefs. One eighth of the
world’s population get different types of advantage from the
reefs.
Coral reefs help in carbon oxidation and fixation of
nitrogen. We depend on different types of services
like recycling and air and water purification, soil
recreation, and the reducing pollutants.
Different types of tourism related to coral reefs are existed in
almost hundred countries and territories. This type of tourism
provides to more than 30% from tourism and export incomes in
more than twenty countries.
Coral reefs are vast resource of food. Reefs are the one of the most
active supplier and recycler of many important nutrients for food
chains of oceanic ecosystem. They are a huge protein source. They
provide about 10% of the fishes are eaten over the world.
Practice prudent anchoring and sensible diving: Any type of contact can
damage the sensible coral species. Breaking or touching reefs and
anchoring the boat or ship on the reef should be prevented. Anchorage can
be used, or the sandy bottom should be looked by sailors.
Proper disposal of trash: Any kind of garbage can be
damaging to coral reefs. Marine garbage like plastic, solid
wastes can kill coral reefs. Trash bin should be put in the
beach. Fine should be ruled. Trash should be disposed
maintaining the three R’s.
Reduce the use of sunscreen: Ingredients of sunscreen is
harmful for coral reef or even kill corals. So, reduction of uses
of sunscreen can be a safe method for the coral reefs.
Minimize the runoff of stormwater: Lessening the runoff of
stormwater can prevent water contamination, reduce flooding. Landlords
can put in water catchments and apply rain containers to collect rainwater
that would reduce the stormwater runoff.
Reduce the use of coral as showpiece: The usage of coral as
showpiece should be reduced.
References:1) MAYNARD J., P. MARSHALL, J. JOHNSON & S.
HARMAN (2010): Building resilience into practical
conservation: identifying local management responses to
global climate change in the southern Great Barrier Reef
Coral Reefs DOI: 10.1007/s00338-010-0603-8.
2) HOLLING C.S. (1973): Resilience and stability of ecological
systems. Annu. Rev. Ecol. Syst. 4: 1-23.
3) O.J. Eong, "Mangroves-a carbon source and sink,"
Chemosphere, vol. 27, no. 6, pp. 1097-1107, 1993.
4) CINNER J.E., T.R. MCCLANAHAN, T.M. DAW, N.A.J.
GRAHAM, J. MAINA, S.K. WILSON & T.P. HUGHES (2009):
Linking social and ecological systems to sustain coral reef
fisheries.Current Biology 19:206-212
At the end, for our ecology, for our
nature, for our ecosystem, for our
nature coral reefs should be
protected.
Water pollutants make coral reefs disease
prone, reduce the growth and
reproduction. Sometimes due to water
pollution, food structures on the reef
become different.
Even it may cause severe disease and
mortality among sensitive coral species. Also,
ecological services from coral reefs may be
hampered due to land-based pollution.