When storms come rolling in across the ocean, they struck coastlines with tremendous force. Luckily, for thousands of miles of tropical coastlines, nature has provided a remarkable form of protection: coral reefs.
These colorful wonders are best known for their diversity of life, their plentiful seafood, and their draw to scuba-diving tourists. But they are also astonishingly durable and firm structures, built by tiny animals with calcium carbonate skeletons (碳酸钙骨架), which provide an important service to the coastlines standing behind them — they can absorb up to 97% of wave energy.
A new study estimates that reefs offer protection to up to 5.3 million people and $109 billion in gross domestic product (GDP) per decade. The maps in the study scientists generated are at a much finer resolution (分辨率) than previous analyses, which allows users to view coral reefs with more details and see where reefs provide the highest degree of protection for people, GDP and infrastructure (基础设施). “This level of detail means we can use this information in practical ways, like in the marine spacial planning we do to inform conservation strategies around the world,” says Dr. Spalding, the co-author of the study. More accurate data on where reefs protect people and infrastructure from destructive waves can help improve decision-making about which reefs to protect.
We have already lost half of the world’s reefs, and scientists predict we could lose up to 90% if actions are not taken to protect them. Effective management strategies are vital to supporting reef health and recovery.
Coral reefs are often selected for conservation based on their ecological significance, which may mean they are located in remote places, away from the more direct effects of human pressures like development and pollution. “We are failing ourselves as well as nature if we don’t also consider protecting the reefs that are located closer to humans,” says Spalding. “These are the reefs that protect us and provide for us in abundance. Let’s look after them.”
【小题1】Which function of coral reefs is mainly discussed in the text?| A．Nurturing diverse living things. | B．Offering plentiful seafood. |
| C．Attracting scuba-diving tourists. | D．Reducing the forces of waves. |
| A．Eco-tourism. | B．Urban planning. |
| C．Reef recovery. | D．Deep-sea exploration. |
| A．Because they protect and provide for humans. |
| B．Because they are more beautiful than remote reefs. |
| C．Because they are of higher ecological significance. |
| D．Because they provide better habitats for marine life. |
| A．Coral Reefs as Coastal Defenders | B．The Secrets of Coral Reefs |
| C．New Ways of Coral Reef Conservation | D．Coastlines behind Coral Reefs |
