Hello again!
I realized that we have told you a lot about how you can save the coral reef but have not talked much about the coral reef itself. If you are wondering what coral reefs really are, here is some information on coral reefs:

Coral reefs are aragonite structures produced by living organisms, found in marine waters with little to no nutrients in the water. High nutrient levels such as those found in runoff from agricultural areas can harm the reef by encouraging the growth of algae. In most reefs, the predominant organisms are stony corals. The accumulation of skeletal material, broken and piled up by wave action and bioeroders, produces a massive calcareous formation that supports the living corals and a great variety of other animal and plant life.
Although corals are found both in temperate and tropical waters, shallow-water reefs are formed only in a zone extending at most from 30°N to 30°S of the equator. Tropical corals do not grow at depths of over 30 m (100 ft). Temperature has less of an effect on the distribution of tropical coral, but it is generally accepted that they do not exist in waters below 18 °C. However, deep water corals can exist at greater depths and colder temperatures. Although deep water corals also form reefs, very little is known about them.
Coral reefs support an extraordinary biodiversity; although they are located in nutrient-poor tropical waters. The process of nutrient cycling between corals, zooxanthellae, and other reef organisms provides an explanation for why coral reefs flourish in these waters: recycling ensures that fewer nutrients are needed overall to support the community.
Coral reefs are home to a variety of tropical or reef fish, such as the colorful parrotfish, angelfish, damselfish and butterfly fish. Other fish groups found on coral reefs include groupers, snappers, grunts and wrasses. Over 4,000 species of fish inhabit coral reefs. It has been suggested that the high number of fish species that inhabit coral reefs are able to coexist in such high numbers because any free living space is rapidly inhabited by the first planktonic fish larvae that occupy it. These fish then inhabit the space for the rest of their life.
Reefs are also home to a large variety of other organisms, including sponges, Cnidarians (which includes some types of corals and jellyfish), worms, crustaceans (including shrimp, spiny lobsters and crabs), molluscs (including cephalopods), echinoderms (including starfish, sea urchins and sea cucumbers), sea squirts, sea turtles and sea snakes. A few of these varied species feed directly on corals, while others graze on algae on the reef and participate in complex food webs.
I hope that all that information was enough for you. Go! Save the coral reef!
Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coral_reef
Lisa:D

hi!!!
Want to know 7 ways you can save the coral reef?

1. Conserve water: The less water you use, the less runoff and waste water will pollute our oceans.
2. Help reduce pollution: Walk, bike or ride the bus. Fossil fuel emissions from cars and industry raise lead to ocean warming which causes mass-bleaching of corals and can lead to widespread destruction of reefs.
3. Use only ecological or organic fertilizers: Although you may live thousands of miles from a coral reef ecosystem, these products flow into the water system, pollute the ocean, and can harm coral reefs and marine life.
4. Dispose of your trash properly: Don't leave unwanted fishing lines or nets in the water or on the beach. Any kind of litter pollutes the water and can harm the reef and the fish.
5. Support reef-friendly businesses: Ask the fishing, boating, hotel, aquarium, dive or snorkeling operators how they protect the reef. Be sure they care for the living reef ecosystem and ask if the organization responsible is part of a coral reef ecosystem management effort.
6. Plant a tree: Trees reduce runoff into the oceans. You will also contribute to reversing the warming of our planet and the rising temperatures of our oceans.
7. Spread the word: Remember your own excitement at learning how important the planet's coral reefs are to us and the intricate global ecosystem. Share this excitement and encourage others to get involved.

Now go save the coral reef!!! You can make a difference!

source:http://www.nature.org/joinanddonate/rescuereef/explore/help.html

Lisa:D

Accidental oil spills remain as an ever-present threat. However the 1997 Evoikos oil spill (27,000 tonnes) did not seriously affect coral reefs, although oil contaminated the upper parts of some reef flats.Other activities that also have an impact on the reefs include recreational and tourist-related use. Negligent or inexperienced divers without proper buoyancy control, leave a trail of broken corals. Anchor damage is caused by fishing boats and pleasure craft. At Pulau Hantu, a popular dive spot, courtesy mooring buoys were previously installed to prevent anchor damage.

Realise how much we humans have an impact on the coral reefs? The amout of damage we have done? However, it's still not too late to start now!

Information from: http://coralreef.nus.edu.sg/
HI EVERYONE!
RESEARCH TIME!
There were once over 60 offshore islands and patch reefs around Singapore, most of which were situated south of mainland Singapore. However, since the mid 1970s, major land reclamation was carried out on the mainland as well as the offshore southern islands. Some islands were merged as a result. The reef flats of many islands were reclaimed right up to the reef slope. Many of the coral reef organisms were smothered by the reclamation, while others were severely affected by the resulting increase in water turbidity. Since 1986, most coral reefs in Singapore have lost up to 65% of their live coral cover! WE MUST SAVE CORAL REEFS!
Contrary to the belief that our reefs have been permanently devastated, they still support rich marine life The reefs in Singapore harbour close to 200 species of hard corals from 55 genera, which given the size of the reefs and conditions present here, compare favourably with coral species richness in the more extensive reefs of the region. Singapore reefs sustain good diversity of other marine organisms too. So far, 111 reef fish species from 30 families were also recorded.
The reef can be subdivided into several zones: the reef flat, the reef crest and the reef slope. The shoreline gives way to the shallow reef flat that may vary in width and depth - at very low tides, some parts of the reef flat are exposed to air and direct sunlight. Here, scattered about are small colonies of boulder-shaped knob corals, maze coral and sponges of different colours. Pockets of sandy areas may be surrounded by lawns of large brown algae. Bands of black sea urchins gather in large numbers. This level also marks the outer edge of the reef flat, which gives way to the reef crest.
No matter what, WE MUST SAVE OUR CORAL REEFS;ITS OURS TO KEEP! I hope that there won't me anymore sharp decreases in the amount of coral reefs in Singapore. Don't forget, CORAL REEFS ARE OURS TO KEEP!
save marine life;
KAIYING<3