Coral reefs are considered to be the "rainforests of the oceans" because they are home to a wide variety of fish and other wildlife, supporting about a quarter of all marine organisms. They also provide food for about 500 million people around the world.
But, like many other species on the Earth, the corals are in danger now!
Coral reefs start to disintegrate when the acidity of the oceans rises beyond a certain threshold, and this point is likely to be reached before 2100, said Jacob Silverman of the Carnegie Institution of Science in Washington.
The threats to corals and other marine species include coastal pollution and human development; increased sedimentation in run-off water; thermal stress and heightened severity of hurricanes from climate change and shifts in species dynamics due to over-fishing.
Unlike modern coral which I STRONGLY discourage purchasing for obvious reasons, collecting fossil coral not only broadens ones collection and studies but it also helps to appreciate the beauty beneath the ancient seas and how important and fragile such amazing creatures were and still are.
From the collection exposed on my blog(Fossilcorals) most specimen are also for sale. And sometimes are auctioned at Ebay as well.
No comments:
Post a Comment