VANISHING CORAL REEF?

Abstract

Coral reefs are a prime illustration of the strong relationship between biodiversity and ecosystem services. Global changes have put rich marine ecosystems with abundant biological diversity—as well as the services these ecosystems provide—in jeopardy, as does the diversity itself. Global trends that alter and reduce coral reef diversity are endangering the lives of hundreds of millions of people. Globally, one of the main threats to coral reefs is climate change. Coral reefs were among the first ecosystems to be recognized as being threatened by ocean acidification. This review paper discusses the current state and global causes of coral reef extinction.