Biodiversity is the variety of living species that can be found in a particular place.
Coral reefs are believed to have the highest biodiversity of any ecosystem on the planet—even more than a tropical rainforest.
Coral reefs are home to more than twenty-five per cent of marine life.
A highly biodiverse ecosystem is often more resilient to changing conditions and can better withstand significant disturbances.
Sharks, groupers and other predatory fish keep populations of smaller fish and other organisms in balance.
“Cleaner” fish (and shrimp) keep other fish healthy by freeing them of parasites, while crabs and sea cucumbers crawl about, scavenging and cleaning up detritus on the reef and ocean floor.
Marine worms and snails perform important roles in the reef ecosystem. Worms filter organic matter in the water and sediments, while snails such as limpets and conchs graze on algae.