The Coral Triangle: Six Nations Guarding One Living Sea
In the warm waters where the western Pacific Ocean meets the Indian Ocean lies an extraordinary marine realm known as the Coral Triangle. Spanning nearly 2.3 million square miles, this ocean territory includes the coastal waters of six distinct nations: Indonesia, Malaysia, Papua New Guinea, the Philippines, the Solomon Islands, and Timor-Leste. Although it covers less than two percent of the world's total ocean surface, scientists often refer to the Coral Triangle as the "Amazon of the Seas" because of its staggering biodiversity.
Biodiversity describes the variety of living things found in an ecosystem. In the Coral Triangle, this variety reaches levels found nowhere else on Earth. Marine biologists have documented more than 600 species of reef-building stony corals here, representing roughly 76 percent of all known coral species on the planet. By comparison, the Caribbean Sea holds fewer than 70 coral species. These dense underwater structures provide food and shelter for over 3,000 species of fish, ranging from tiny clownfish darting between anemone tentacles to colossal whale sharks gliding through open channels. Furthermore, six of the world's seven marine turtle species migrate through and feed across these rich waters.
- biodiversity:
- The variety of different plant and animal species living in an ecosystem.
- currents:
- Continuous, directed movements of ocean water generated by forces like wind and temperature.
- larvae:
- The immature, early developmental forms of animals before they transform into adults.
- livelihoods:
- The means, jobs, or sources of income people use to secure the necessities of life.
- erosion:
- The gradual wearing away of rocks, sand, or soil by water, wind, or waves.
- bleaching:
- The process where stressed corals lose their color and turn white after expelling their symbiotic algae.
- quotas:
- Official limits placed on the quantity of something that can be caught, produced, or collected.
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Preview questions from this passageShowHide
- 1Why do scientists nickname the Coral Triangle the 'Amazon of the Seas'?
- 2Which six nations share the marine territory of the Coral Triangle?
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About this explanatory article passage for 5th Grade
“The Coral Triangle: Six Nations Guarding One Living Sea” is a explanatory article reading passage about Coral Triangle marine biodiversity and conservation, written for 5th Grade. It takes about 4 minutes to read (527 words) and comes with an interactive quiz and a printable worksheet with comprehension questions and an answer key.