Question

What will happen to coral reefs if nearby seagrasses are destroyed?

Sedimentation will occur in intertidal zones instead of coral reefs.
Reef health will improve without the filtration that seagrasses provide.
Reefs will receive less sunlight due to increased turbidity in the water.
Carbonate for coral formation will decrease significantly without seagrass.

Answer 1

If nearby seagrasses are destroyed, several negative impacts can occur for coral reefs. Sedimentation may increase in intertidal zones instead of coral reefs, which can be harmful to reef health. The filtration provided by seagrasses will be lost, potentially leading to a decline in reef health. Additionally, the destruction of seagrasses can result in increased turbidity in the water, reducing the amount of sunlight reaching the reefs. Finally, the availability of carbonate for coral formation can decrease significantly without seagrass.