Coral Reefs

All of the tropical coral reefs in the world will

be destroyed by the end of the century
because of the rising acidity of the oceans
Carbonic acid interferes with the coral
organisms' ability to make their calcium
carbonate shells
Once the shells stops forming, the reef quickly
crumbles
Considered to be the rainforest of the ocean
Increased ocean temperatures lead to
bleaching after losing photosynthetic algae.
An estimated 25% of coral reefs have already
disappeared and an estimated two-thirds of all
coral reefs are at risk today.
An estimated 88% of the reefs in Southeast
Asia - the most species rich reefs on earth - are
at risk
Since 1975, more than 90% of the reefs in the
Florida Keys have lost their living coral cover
Coral reefs are among the oldest ecosystems
on Earth.
500 million people rely on coral reefs for their
food and livelihoods.