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Discusses the factors contributing to the increase in the destruction of coral reefs. Focus on the pollution ecology of the Red Sea coral reefs at Elat, Israel, on the Gulf of Aqaba; Effect of chronic oil pollution on the ability of coral reefs to recover after an abnormally low tide; Impact of the city on the coral reefs; Growth of benthic algae that prevent the settlement of coral larvae; Relationship between corals and marine bacteria.

Presents a number of activities for students , which are based on coral reefs. Detailed information on coral reefs; Indication that coral reefs are often called the tropical rain forests of the sea; Information on the activities; How the activities are played; what the activities involve; Reference to the song of coral `Sing A Song Of Sixpence.' INSETS: Coral crunchies;Reading about the reef.

A quiz concerning the knowledge about Coral Reefs.

The article discusses research being done on the architecture of the Caribbean coral reefs. It references a study by Jenny Gill and colleagues, published in a 2009 issue of "Proceedings of the Royal Society B." The study reveals that the reefs' architecture has collapsed, which may affect biodiversity and coastal defense. Reasons for this were the saw white-band disease that occurred in the reefs in the late 1970s and the global warming.

This article reports that a model of the food web in a Caribbean reef suggests that sharks are vital for the health of coral reefs. According to the model, created by Enric Sala of the Scripps Institution of Oceanography in San Diego, California, and colleagues, the removal of top predators allows lesser predators such as groupers to thrive, leading to a reduction in the number of algal feeders such as parrotfish. That makes reefs more vulnerable to disturbances that kill corals, such as disease, pollution and global warming. The study suggests that the loss of sharks may have contributed to the decline of reefs in the Caribbean, most of which are now dominated by algae.

The article presents information on the relation between fishes and coral reefs. The juvenile fish follow the crackle and fizz from a coral reef to help them find it. Researcher Stephen Simpson at the University of Edinburgh, Great Britain and his colleagues set up 24 artificial reefs, each with a speaker system, near Australia's Great Barrier Reef. Reefs with the audio cue attracted four times as many cardinal fish and nearly twice as many damselfish. The discovery helps explain how fish that start life in the open ocean are able to find reef habitat in which to settle.

Report on the dying of coral reefs worldwide. Effects of rising sea temperature on coral reefs; Rejection of dinoflagellate algae; Continuance in the symbiosis of corals.

Highlights a number of coral reef activities for students. Identification of activities; Requirements needed for the activities; Information on the corals called polyps; Reason most polyps attach themselves to hard surfaces; Steps to take in preparation for the activities.

The article highlights the importance of microbial communities in coral reefs which makes them to endure stresses of environmental changes. Topics discussed include views of Andrea Grottoli, the director of the Coral Bleaching Research Coordination Network, on physiologically resilient species of corals & microbiomes; and study of Brazil researchers on use of bacteria to increase a coral's thermal tolerance and also suggested the inoculation of coral against rising ocean temperatures.

The article discusses the proposed the biological control in controlling the population of Carijoa riisei commonly known as snowflake coral in the Hawaiian waters. The proposal was presented by a technician at the Hawaii Institute of Marine Biology during the annual conference of the Hawaii Conservation Alliance. It suggests the use of a nudibranch predator Phyllodesmium poindimiei as a biocontrol since it preys exclusively on these species of coral. Though laboratory analysis reveals that nudibranch can devastate the colonies of snowflake corals, further studies is suggested to assess its potential effect on other hard corals before it will be use as a biological agent.

The article looks at how the Coral Triangle in Indonesia, which is home to one of the most diverse collections of marine life in the world, is endangered. The ecosystem faces a growing threat from overfishing and destructive fishing. Highly desirable species like grouper and Napoleon wrasse have been fished to near extinction. Rising sea temperatures have increased periods of coral bleaching, which kills the reefs.

The article looks at how the Coral Triangle in Indonesia, which is home to one of the most diverse collections of marine life in the world, is endangered. The ecosystem faces a growing threat from overfishing and destructive fishing. Highly desirable species like grouper and Napoleon wrasse have been fished to near extinction. Rising sea temperatures have increased periods of coral bleaching, which kills the reefs.

The article reports that a bout of coral bleaching is affecting the Great Barrier Reef in Queensland as of April 2006. Scientists have warned that the problem could be as bad as the worst case on record in 2001-2002, when 60 percent of the reef was affected. An international team studying the world's reef explained that for the past four months water temperatures off Australia's northeastern coast have exceeded long-term averages. Bleaching occurs when the zooxanthellae microscopic plants which live in coral tissue and provide it with colour and food stop working due to stress, often as a result of rising temperatures.

Presents information about some scientific facts. Comparison between genes of plants and human beings; Changing shape of the Earth; Ability of coral reef plants to keep themselves clean.

Features a survey on the changes in coral reef ecosystem in the Philippines. Management of vital resource; Documentation on the decline of both coral and fish; Establishment of reef management strategies.

Reports on the discovery of a chemical found in sea urchins to use against crown-of-thorns sea stars that kill coral reefs from Hawaii to Japan.

Discusses the discovery about the capability of underwater worms to move coral reefs.

Presents information on the impact of white pox, rapid wasting disease, patchy necrosis, white plague or black-band disease on coral reefs in the United States. Number of known infections that attack coral tissue; Citing research conducted by the United States Environmental Protection Agency that disease on Florida's coral reefs had increased by 292 percent; Comments from ecologist James W. Porter of the University of Georgia.