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MARINE
LIFE
When
the Red Sea, 2000 km in length and 2000 metres deep, opened to the
south several million years ago, it gradually became populated by marine
animals from the Indo-Pacific. But, as the southern opening is only
a narrow connection to the Indian Ocean, the Red Sea is an almost isolated
body of water with a higher temperature and salinity.
Thats
why over 10% of its fish species are endemic and live mainly in sea grass
beds, sand zones and especially the fringing coral reefs.
The
Red Sea is teeming with an amazing spectacle of colour and form. Reef sharks,
stingrays, turtles, dolphins, colourful corals, sponges, sea cucumbers and
a multitude of molluscs all thrive in these waters.
Coral
reefs have existed on the planet for approximately 450 million years. They
are the result of a remarkable relationship between coral animals and microscopic
algae.
If
corals are damaged, the ecological balance of the reef will be permanently
disturbed !
The
result would be loss of productivity and biodiversity, both would have
serious consequences on this unique ecosystem. |
