Coastal protection as natural ramparts

・Coral reefs function as natural ramparts by reducing high-wave energy of typhoon and storm from their structures. ・Coral reefs are also protecting coastal beaches by providing sands that are by-products of foraminifera and/or eroded coral skeletons

Providing various resources

・Coral reefs provide us various resources not only fisheries products but also building materials, folk craft natural fertilizer, etc. ・It is potentially expected in the future that coral reefs may provide useful chemical resources for medical use

Rich field for educational and research use

・Coral reefs teach us many things serving as “natural school”. The role of coral reefs is expanding in the field of environmental education, for example, as nature watch and nature clean ups. ・Many mysteries still remain in biology of corals and other organisms living in coral reefs.

【Coral reefs involved in CO 2 circulation 】

・Coral reefs involved deeply in global warming ? 　The global warming is due to increased emission of CO 2 in the atmosphere induced by human activities. The increase of greenhouse effect gas such as CO 2 in the atmosphere induces temperature rise of the entire globe. This phenomenon triggers serious problems such as sea level rise, climatic aberration that further result as drought, flooding, extermination of species, etc. This important keyword “CO 2” is related with coral reefs 　The coral skeletal framework is chiefly formed by CO 2 and calcium ion dissolved in seawater, which is a result of photosynthetic activity of zooxanthellae living in coral tissue in symbiotic relationship. Thus this biological activity is thought to have something to do with global CO 2 circulation. However it is not confirmed yet whether coral reef is playing as a sink or source of CO 2. 　Coral reefs occupy only 0.3% of total ocean areas. It is surprising to know that such a small ecosystems might be playing a significant role in global CO 2 circulation.

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