5) The ocean supports a great diversity of life and ecosystems

5) The ocean supports a great diversity of life and ecosystems

5) The ocean supports a great diversity of life and ecosystems There are warm water corals and cold water corals. Coral reefs might look like rocks or plants but are in fact made by tiny animals called coral polyps. Each coral polyp builds a hard shell around itself, a bit like a tiny house made of limestone! Coral reefs cover less than 1% of the ocean floor but support about 25% of all marine life. When ocean water gets too warm, the corals can turn white and can die. This is called coral bleaching. Climate and the Ocean Science Story Above: A healthy coral reef