Question

Coral reefs support more species than any other marine environment. The biodiversity in a coral reef is great, and scientists estimate that there may be another 1 to 8 million undiscovered species of organisms living in and around reefs. Reef structures protect shorelines against waves preventing the destruction of beaches and coastal property. An artificial reef is a man-made structure that mimics some of the characteristics of a natural reef. Often, old ships and even subway cars are sunk off the coastal shore to create an artificial reef environment. What is the greatest benefit an artificial reef would provide to the people living along the coast

Answer 1

Answer:

The artificial reef would decrease erosion of the coastline.

Explanation:

Artificial reefs are created in area where there is little uderwater topography or near established coral reefs to imitate or even substitute for natural coral reefs where they are absent or endangered due various factors which are mostly human in nature. The artificial serves to provide a habitat for marine organisms and ensure more biodiversity around the area by providing shelter from predation and surfaces for encrusting organisms such as corals and sponges to grow on. The growth of these lower level food chain organisms attract larger predator organisms thereby increasing the biodiversity in the area.

Artificial reefs are made from a variety of materials such as shipwrecks, construction debris, oil rigs, concrete, and any other man-made objects. Since reef structures protect shorelines against waves, artificial reefs would decrease the erosion of the coastline providing benefit to the people living along the coastline by preventing the destruction of beaches and coastal property,