How are corals beneficial for humans?
Coral reefs are geological structures that are formed by collections of invertebrates called coral polyps. As a rule, they form in the shallow waters of tropical seas and provide habitat for many animals. Scientists have long been observing how these formations, important for life on Earth, are gradually dying out. In the early 1980s, the total area of coral reefs was approximately 600 thousand square kilometers, and by the 2000s their area was already 250 thousand square kilometers. The cause of the extinction of coral reefs is considered to be pollution of the World Ocean and the consequences of global warming – due to abnormal heat, the water is highly oxidized. Scientists believe that if measures are not taken to save coral reefs in time, they may completely disappear by 2100. They are very important for animals, but what benefit do they have for people? Besides, what are scientists doing to save them? Arab scientists have found a way to save coral reefs
The benefits of coral reefs for humans
The first thing that coral reefs do for the benefit of humanity is to protect the shores from the destructive influence of sea waves. If they disappear completely, the structures located on the coasts may collapse. 
Great coral reef Secondly, coral reefs are very important for the tourism sector. For example, the geological structures of the Red and Caribbean Seas, as well as the northeastern coast of Australia, are among the main sources of income for the local population. These places are very beautiful, so tourists always want to go scuba diving and are willing to pay good money for this opportunity. 
Tourists pay big money to see coral reefs Some inhabitants of coral reefs are used by people to make medicines. An example is sea squirts, sea creatures that have the shape of a glass jar with two necks on top and bottom. From the ascidian species Aplidium albicans people extract the chemical plitidepsin, which is currently being tested as an anti-virus agent. Substances that protect polyps from sun exposure are used to make drugs to treat skin cancer. 
Medicines are made from sea squirts In Korea, Chile and France, ascidians are eaten. Outwardly, dishes made from them seem tasteless, but they are considered very healthy. In particular, sea squirts reduce the risk of high blood pressure and promote better blood flow. On top of all this, sea squirts are rich in protein. 
Sea squirt dish
Protecting Coral Reefs
As I said above, if no action is taken, coral reefs could completely disappear within a hundred years. At the moment, the most effective way to preserve them is to dump metal structures into the sea, which can become the basis for the growth of new corals. The only disadvantage of this technology is that on such a frame the calcareous skeletons of coral polyps grow very slowly. 
Coral growing process But recently, Arab scientists introduced 3D CoraPrint technology, which significantly speeds up the first stages of coral formation. According to the scientific journal ACS Sustainable Chemistry & Engineering, instead of concrete and iron structures, scientists propose using natural structures printed on a 3D printer. After scanning the shape of a real coral, the device creates a copy of it using calcium carbonate “ink”. The artificial support base for coral reefs is called Calcium Carbonate Photo-initiated (CCP). Scientists have already assessed the level of its danger to living organisms – it does not cause any harm. 
Growing corals using 3D CoraPrint After creating a base of CCP, microscopic fragments of living coral polyps are applied to it. According to the study’s author, Charlotte Hauser, coral polyps grow faster on a calcium carbonate structure because they don’t have to start forming from a limestone structure—that’s already done in the laboratory. The researchers also noted that, if necessary, a framework for growing corals can be created using a silicone mold. In this case, the manufacturing process takes less time, but the structure is simple and small. 3D printing takes longer, but the shape of the frame can be more complex and large. 
Testing printed structures in an aquarium Links to interesting articles, funny memes and much other interesting information can be found on our Telegram channel. Subscribe! Finally, I would like to note that recently, in the Australian city of Orpheus, people accidentally found a huge coral 5,3 meters high. You can read more about this discovery here. 
World Wildlife Day is an opportunity to appreciate everything that the world around us gives us. This year’s theme, “Conserving all life on Earth,” expresses gratitude for our natural environment, which allows wild animals, plants and people to coexist peacefully. One of the most valuable elements of wildlife is the coral reef. Coral reefs are home to the largest number of species of living things in the ocean. It can be called an underwater jungle – it is full of living and non-living elements that together form the most extraordinary and important ecosystem in the world. Did you know that coral reefs are no less important for our lives than for underwater inhabitants? Let’s look at 7 reasons to protect coral reefs: BANCO CHINCHORRO, MEXICO
CREDIT: PHILIP HAMILTON / CORAL REEF IMAGE BANK @hamiltonunderwater
- Food
For approximately half a billion people, fish living in coral reefs are the main source of food. Even if you live far from the coast, there is a good chance that the fish you eat lived in a coral reef! Coral reefs support more than 4 species of fish. Healthy reefs can produce about 000 tons of fish per square kilometer each year (IUCN).
- Sources of livelihood
Coral reefs attract many tourists to their areas. Every year, millions of divers and scuba divers gather to admire the reefs. Even more travelers visit the reef-lined beaches. It is an important source of income for motorboat owners as well as tourist destinations such as hotels and restaurants.
Coral reefs act as natural barriers to storms that can erode coastlines, damage property, or threaten lives. This is due to their bizarre shapes and the underwater “walls” they create, which help tame the force of the oncoming waves. The protection provided by coral reefs is increasingly important as climate change may increase the severity and frequency of storms.
New medicines and dietary supplements are being produced from chemical compounds found in many species of organisms living in coral reefs. Although scientists have been mining forests for such compounds for decades, research into reefs as a source of nutrients has only recently begun. This means that we may not yet even imagine what effective medicines can be obtained from coral reefs!
For people who live on coastlines surrounded by reefs, and for anyone who has ever dived underwater and seen their amazing colors and abundance of life, coral reefs are much more valuable than money. In addition to providing us with resources and income, reefs are a fascinating example of the complexity and beauty of life on our planet. If you’ve ever seen a coral reef in person, you’ll probably agree that their existence makes the world more colorful.
Coral reefs help cleanse coastal waters of pollution. Many corals and sponges are filter feeders, meaning they absorb particulates (water-insoluble pollutants) from the water. Thus, these particles do not settle to the bottom of the ocean and do not pollute it with harmful substances. Next time you take a dip in the ocean, don’t forget to thank the coral reefs for helping to keep it clean!
People often think of beach sand as broken shells, but coral reefs also help create beaches. In fact, most of the coastal sand is particles of destroyed coral skeletons. In addition, some reef organisms recycle coral into sand. For example, a large parrotfish produces almost a ton of sand per year!
Coral reefs are unlike other ecosystems on Earth. These beautiful reefs not only support a wealth of plant and animal life, but also provide us with invaluable resources and improve our quality of life.
To learn more about coral reef conservation, click here and try Reef Journey, an interactive game that explores how the daily actions of different organisms maintain the delicate balance of their ecosystem.
