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WonderOcean science fact1,706 of 1,961

Coral reefs cover less than one percent of the ocean floor, yet they support roughly a quarter of marine species and buffer coasts from waves.

Marine biodiversity and coastal protection

OceanClimateBiologyScience

Why it matters

The idea in context

A reef is not a rock garden. It is an animal-built city, made by coral polyps and sustained by relationships with algae, fish, currents and clear water. Climate change, warming and acidification threaten that delicate architecture. The scale is humbling: a narrow strip of living limestone can shelter coastlines, feed communities and hold more life than its size seems able to contain.

Türkçe

Aynı kart, başka bir dilde.

Mercan resifleri okyanus tabanının yüzde birinden azını kaplar; buna rağmen deniz türlerinin yaklaşık dörtte birini destekler ve kıyıları dalgalara karşı tamponlar.
Deniz biyoçeşitliliği ve kıyı koruması

Resif bir kaya bahçesi değildir. Mercan poliplerinin kurduğu; algler, balıklar, akıntılar ve temiz suyla sürdürülen canlı bir kenttir. İklim değişikliği, ısınma ve asitlenme bu hassas mimariyi tehdit eder. Ölçek alçakgönüllülük öğretir: Dar bir canlı kireçtaşı şeridi kıyıları koruyabilir, toplulukları besleyebilir ve boyutunun taşıyamayacağı kadar çok yaşama yer açabilir.

Source trail

Read beyond the card.

Background reading: Coral reefAttribution and context are revised when stronger evidence appears. Corrections are welcome through the editorial page.
Open in the iPhone appEditorial method

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