This entry was posted on Monday, August 25th, 2008 at 11:10 am and is filed under Snorkeling. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.
A reef is a shallow underwater community that harbors many types of plant and animal life. It can be made from a rock or sandbar, but the best known reefs in the world are made from coral. Artificial reef systems can form from man-made items like sinking ships, but these are not considered to be true reefs. Coral is one of many biotic reef types, along with oyster reefs, though when it comes to expansive size and wide distribution, coral is king. Coral however is not dominant in expanding the size of coral reefs. This special task is taken up by calcareous algae, which grows quickly and makes up for the constant assault by oceanic forces.
Within coral reefs is a variegated ecosystem that contains a great collection of species. At the head of this ecosystem is the initial energy source of the sun, which is why reefs can be found in shallow water. Photosynthesis is at the heart of all reef systems. Through photosynthesis, phytoplankton, algae and other plants convert light energy into chemical energy and create a food source for other animals which include sponges, crabs, octopus, squid, shrimp and mollusks to name a few in the amazingly diverse ranks. In Hawaii, snorkeling offers a wonderful view of these incredible plants and animals.
