| Coral polyps can truly be called the animals that | | | | reef are significant; it kills most living things and |
| helped make the world. For uncounted generations, | | | | causes great damage to the reef's structure. |
| trillions upon trillions of coral polyps have built | | | | Fishing with liquid cyanide, a very dangerous and |
| structures called reefs, larger in scale than those of | | | | deadly material, is another threat to reef |
| any other living beings, including humans. The | | | | ecosystems, particularly in the Philippines. Fishermen |
| stone-like material created by these tiny animals | | | | release liquid cyanide into the reef and collect the |
| becomes limestone, a prized building material that | | | | stunned fish, which are then sold for big money to |
| was used to construct the Great Pyramids of Egypt. | | | | the aquarium market, or for consumption in |
| Huge deposits of limestone exist underground, | | | | restaurants. The fishermen often break apart the |
| beneath the ocean, in islands, and in mountains. | | | | reef to look for hiding fish. The cyanide also kills large |
| Limestone has been used in the construction of | | | | numbers of coral polyps, leaving large areas of the |
| countless churches, castles, train stations, and banks, | | | | reef dead. |
| and crushed limestone is a major ingredient of | | | | Reefs are also damaged when coral is taken for |
| cement. | | | | building material, jewelry, or aquarium ornaments. |
| Living coral reefs are remarkable "cities beneath the | | | | Water pollution also results in damage. In addition, the |
| sea," filled with a rich variety of life. These undersea | | | | recent warming of the oceans has caused areas of |
| ecosystems thrive in the warm, shallow oceans near | | | | many reefs to turn white. Biologists are concerned |
| the equator. Among the world's most colorful places, | | | | that coral may be negatively impacted by further |
| coral reefs are full of brilliantly colored fish and coral | | | | warming. |
| covered in wonderful patterns. Reef fish are an | | | | Threats to coral reefs are serious, but there is |
| important food source for humans and make up a | | | | reason to hope that they will manage to survive. If |
| significant percentage of the global fish catch. | | | | we take steps toward coral reef conservation, it is |
| In recent years, various factors have threatened | | | | likely that these tiny creatures, which have survived |
| coral reefs and the life that depends on them as | | | | natural threats for millions of years, will be able to |
| their home. Blast fishing is an illegal fishing method | | | | rebuild the damaged reefs that so many ocean |
| which involves setting off bombs in the water to kill | | | | animals and plants depend on. |
| as many fish as possible. Its negative effects on a | | | | |