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Coral reef formation involves a variety of processes operating at different spatial scales, and our
discussion of how coral reefs are formed reflects that reality.
The Philippines is part of the Coral Triangle, the epicenter for marine biodiversity and what is
considered the Amazon of the Sea. It is an area with more species of fish and corals than any
other marine environment on earth
Last year, Reef Check, an international organization assessing the health of reefs in 82 countries,
stated that only five percent of the country's coral reefs are in "excellent condition." These are
the Tubbataha Reef Marine Park in Palawan, Apo Island in Negros Oriental, Apo Reef
in Puerto Galera, Mindoro, and Verde Island Passage off Batangas.
How Are Individual Reefs Built?
The structural foundation of individual coral reefs is formed by a multitude of marine animals
and plants through the processes of slow accumulation and deposition of calcium
carbonate (limestone) extracted from seawater.
The Main Reef Builders
While a wide variety of marine life ultimately contributes to the structural complexities of coral
reefs, most of the reef's underlying solid framework is constructed by just a few types of marine
organisms.
These are the hard (Scleractinian) corals, and the coralline red algae that grows upon and
amidst the coral colonies.
encrusting coralline algae grows upon a reef surface
The overall reef-building process is slow; coral reefs are built over decades and
centuries - not weeks or months.
surrounding Pacific
islands
Barrier Reefs
Barrier reefs are extensive
linear reef
complexes that parallel a
shore, and are separated
from it by lagoon.
Fringing reefs
Indo-Pacific atolls
None of the suggestions given concerning human contact on the reef will alleviate the
problem if the problem of poluted water is not alleviated also. If all of us do not
cooperate, soon there will not be reef to save. Time is running out.