Marine Habitats: Coral Reefs / Mattingan
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Marine Habitats: Coral Reefs / Mattingan
Microatoll on a Guam reef flat. Photo © Chris Lobban
Coral reefs occur where the water is shallow, consistently clear, fully saline, relatively clean, and the bottom is stable enough to provide for the settlement and growth of corals. Corals are the building blocks of reefs and coralline algae the cement that holds the rubble, sand and corals together. Corals grow best in the clear water along the outer edge of the reef. As the reef grows away from the shore, a lagoon may develop on its shoreward side. Guam's coral reefs are home to thousands of species of animals and plants including hundreds of kinds of fishes and shellfishes. Fishes and other animals and plants taken from coral reefs are an indispensible part of Guam's traditional diet. Tourists are attracted to the reef's abundant marine life and clear waters. Pollution and silt that wash into the sea are the biggest threats to our coral reefs. Other threats include destructive fishing practices, illegal harvesting of coral, and overfishing that may upset the ecological balance.
You can learn lots more about coral reefs from our video and CD-ROM.
Guam Comprehensive Wildlife Conservation Strategy, 9/27/2005
