1. By: Cameron Gilbert

2. . Reefs in the Florida Keys, for example, hold at least 45 species of stony coral, 37 species of octocoral, five species of sea turtles, 500 species of fish, about 1,700 species of mollusks and hundreds of species of sponges. In addition to their incredible value as wildlife habitat, coral reefs protect coastlines from storms and provide billions of dollars of food and jobs every year to people around the world.

3. Soft corals refer to the organisms in the class Octocorallia, which includes gorgonians, sea fans, sea pens, sea feathers and blue corals. These corals have a flexible, sometimes leathery, appearance. Although many resemble plants, they are actually animals.

4. A coral reef is a community of living organisms. It is made up of plants, fish, and many other creatures. Coral reefs are some of the most diverse ecosystems in the world. They are home to about 25% of all marine life!

5. There are sponges, sea slugs, oysters, clams, crabs, shrimp, sea worms, starfish and sea urchins, jellyfish and sea anemones; various types of fungi, sea turtles, and many species of fish. Think of them as the “rainforests of the oceans.”

6. Bibliography http://www.ecokids.ca/pub/eco_info/topics/oceans/coral_re efs.cfm http://www.defenders.org/coral-reef/basic-facts http://www.coral-reef-info.com / http://www.softschools.com/facts/biomes/coral_reef_biome_ facts/168 / http://animals.nationalgeographic.com/animals/invertebrates/c oral /