A coral reef is a resistant marine ridge that consists of compacted coral together with algal material and biochemically that contains magnesium and calcium carbonates. They are the most diverse of all marine ecosystems. Due to this diversity, Coral reefs are often referred to as the rainforests of the sea. Corals, sponges and seaweeds cover the surface of many coral reefs. Coral Reefs form in warm, shallow waters, and they provide home to a variety of sea life. They also protect the shoreline from erosion by causing large waves to break, losing some of their force before reaching land. The U.S. Pacific coast marine region encompasses the continental margin off the states of California, Oregon and Washington. Includes a review of potential impacts to corals in the region and related conservation measures enacted to protect coral communities and their habitats. Finally, the authors provide recommendations for future research to improve our understanding of these organisms.

 

This article relates to environmental science because many coral reef communities are being discovered in California, yet humans do not seem to care through providing the help needed in order to help not harm these organisms anymore. Coral reef communities are widely spread throughout California, spreading all the way to Oregon and Washington, meaning that there population is increasing but are decreasing at the same time because of the impact that humans are having on these Coral reef communities. Coral reefs are used by the marine life to live in and depend on in order to have a healthy lifestyle, yet they have to constantly fight with humans to maintain a healthy habitat and have a simple home. Because, of the multiple negative effects that coral reefs are facing as a whole, the marine life is being impacted as well and are having to suffer the consequences of humans actions. It seems as though humans disregard that the marine life exists and that they also need a habitat in order to survive. These organisms are being restricted to a healthy life under the sea and are finding much difficulty to be able to survive and exist in the ocean itself.https://www.coris.noaa.gov/activities/deepcoral_rpt/Chapter3_PacificCoast.pdf