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The Great Barrier Reef, a fragile empire

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  • great barrier reef, coral sea, australia
  • great barrier reef, coral sea, australia
  • great barrier reef, coral sea, australia
  • great barrier reef, coral sea, australia
  • great barrier reef, coral sea, australia
  • great barrier reef, coral sea, australia
  • great barrier reef, coral sea, australia
  • great barrier reef, coral sea, australia
    Coral colonies

    The Great Barrier Reef, the largest living structure on Earth, is the product of billions of tiny organisms called polyps which secrete calcium carbonate during photosynthesis to form coral. Soft corals cling to hard corals, algae and sponges paint the rocks, and every crevice is a creature's home. But this fragile coral colony is beginning to crumble, battered by the effects of climate change, pollution and manmade disasters. (David Doubilet/National Geographic Stock) _____________________________________________________________________________________ Purchase this image as a print at Cafepress.com

Coral colonies

The Great Barrier Reef, the largest living structure on Earth, is the product of billions of tiny organisms called polyps which secrete calcium carbonate during photosynthesis to form coral. Soft corals cling to hard corals, algae and sponges paint the rocks, and every crevice is a creature's home. But this fragile coral colony is beginning to crumble, battered by the effects of climate change, pollution and manmade disasters. (David Doubilet/National Geographic Stock) _____________________________________________________________________________________ Purchase this image as a print at Cafepress.com

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