Coral Reef

Thai silver starfish, Glass beads by California glass bead artist Rita Forman, sterling silver chain and clasp. Adjustable length 18-20”. $120
OP002

“Coral reefs are among the most beautiful and complex of Earth’s ecosystems, and are home to a fantastic variety of animals and other organisms; but they are also among the most heavily utilized and economically valuable. Today, the world’s reefs are under pressure from numerous threats to their health.

In addition to reef-building corals, the warm, sunny waters of a reef are populated by a huge variety of other animals as well as seaweeds. The richest and healthiest reefs are home to thousands of species of fish and other marine vertebrates, such as turtles, while all the major groups of invertebrate animals are represented.

These include sponges, worms, anemones, and non-reef-building corals (such as sea fans), crustaceans, mollusks (which include snails, clams, and octopuses), and echinoderms (sea urchins and relatives). Every nook and cranny of a reef is used by some animal as a hiding place and shelter. All organisms in the reef are part of a complex web of relationships. Many organisms are also involved in mutualistic partnerships with other organisms, in which both species benefit.”

Ocean: The World’s Last Wilderness Revealed, American Museum of Natural History