A guide for planners and managers - IUCN

Table II-5. Connections Between Coral Reefs and Neighbouring and Linked Habitats
Habitat
Neighbouring
Benefits Potential Harmful Impacts Linking Mechanisms
Reef flat Introduces fixed nitrogen, Transport by waves
dissolved and particulate currents, fishes
organic compounds to reef
food web
and sea urchins
As feeding ground and nursery Nocturnal/diurnai
for reef fishes, increases
diversity and abundance of
reef species
migration
Sea grass beds Introduce dissolved and Transport by
particulate organic compounds currents, fishes
to reef food web and sea urchins
As feeding grounds and nurseries Nocturnal/diurnal
for reef organisms, increase migration
diversity and abundance
of reef species
Consolidate sediments, protecting Destruction of seagrass beds Transport by waves
reef from smothering by repeated anchoring and currents
releases sediments into the water
column and increases turbidity;
reef organisms can be smothered,
resulting in decrease of diversity
and abundance of reef species.
Sand or mud flats As feeding grounds for reef Nocturnal/diurnal
fishes, increase diversity migration
and abundance of reef species
176 MARINE AND COASTAL
PROTECTED AREAS