“Teach us how transient we are and how fragile is everything we love.”
Psalm 39 (Mitchell)
Coral reefs, “the rainforests of the sea”, are the most biodiverse and productive ecosystems on the earth. Over 4000 species of fish make their homes in coral reefs.
The oceans’ coral reefs are not only beautiful but fragile. A coral reef is made up of thousands of tiny coral creatures called polyps that form a hard outer crust that attaches to rock or the skeletons of polyps. These creatures are sensitive to temperature change and increasing sea levels due to global warming. The worlds reefs are endangered by overfishing and fishing techniques, costal development, pollution from the land and the effects of CO2 increase in the water.
The Coral Reef Icon envisions a healthy, colorful, diverse group of coral organisms with its accompaniment of elegant fish families. The Old Testament text from Psalms is a prayer for our awareness of life on this planet.
In place photos:
