Lecture notes on economic importance of corals

Decorative value:Some corals are highly priced for their decorative value.eg. fire coral, Pocillopora verrucosa and Acropora hemprichii

 Jwellery and ornaments:Precious corals like Corallium nobile or C. rubrum  are used in jewellery and ornaments.

Coral reefs and Islands:Corals are also important in building the coral reefs and islands, some of which are used as habitation by human and other animals.

Medicine:The organ pipe coral (Tubipora) is used in indigenous system of medicine in South India.

Building and road construction:Coral skeletons especially of species like porites are used in as building construction and for metalling the roads.

Preparation of lime mortar: Corals serve as raw materials for the preparation of lime mortar and cement because of their large calcium carbonate content.

Cement industry:Some older coral lime stones are rich in magnesium, hence they are of great value in cement industry.

 Barrier against sea erosion and cyclonic storm:Coral skeletons act as natural barriers against sea erosion and cyclonic storms.

Marine bird sanctuary:Old reefs have long served as sea bird sanctuaries .They  serve as  collection of huge deposits of guano( bird droppings).

Biodiversity:Coral reefs provide a unique habitat for large and diverse variety of plants animals and microbes.

Evolution:The richness and variability of the invertebrate fauna and the complex structure of the coral reefs have provided opportunities for the evolution of a number of fishes associated with coral reefs.

Tourism:In many countries Fringing reef, Barrier reef and Atolls are helping in the tourism industr