Coral Reef Ecosystems

Coral reef ecosystems are bastions of biodiversity where thousands of plant and animal species make their homes. Ten National Parks with coral reefs attract more than 1.5 million visits per year. Threats to the coral reef Parks include:

• coral bleaching and disease
• overfishing
• impaired water quality
• recreational impacts

The National Park Service is working to restore and maintain the exceptional biological and recreational values of coral reef Parks.

In celebration of IYOR 2008, the artist Wyland created this commemorative painting, 'Year of the Reef'.

 

Coral Reef Parks

Florida

Biscayne NP »

Dry Tortugas NP »

 

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U.S. Virgin Islands

Buck Island Reef NM »

Virgin Islands NP »

Virgin Islands Coral Reef NM »

Salt River Bay NHP & Ecological Preserve »

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Hawai´i & Pacific Islands

Kalaupapa NHP »

Kaloko Honokahau NHP »

National Park of American Samoa »

War-in-the-Pacific NHP, Guam »

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Inventory & Monitoring

South Florida Caribbean I & M Network »

Pacific Islands I &M Network »

Virgin Islands Discovery: Corals live on unusual underwater habitat of mangrove prop roots on St. John.
View the slide show

USGS fact sheet

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What’s Happening in the Parks (featured park)

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Web Rangers oceans activities
The Secret Garden

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Web Rangers oceans activities
Ocean Life Matching Game

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Reef Park Resources

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International Year of the Reef

Dry Tortugas Research
Natural Area PSA

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Quicktime 32.6 MB

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M4V File for iPods 9.6 MB
(right click and save)