The Great Barrier Reef is the world s largest coral reef

Last updated: 6/9/2023

The Great Barrier Reef is the world s largest coral reef system composed of over 2 900 in dividual reefs and 900 islands stretching over 2 300 km In just five years marine heat waves have triggered three mass coral bleaching events reducing shallow water coral reefs by as much as 50 percent Because of the bleaching events the coral reefs have experi enced a loss of species biodiversity How will a loss in species biodiversity affect an ecosystem A B C D The health and stability of an ecosystem are determined only by genetic diversity not by species diversity Although a loss of species diversity is not good for an ecosystem it typically does not af fect the stability of the ecosystem A loss of species diversity reduces the stability of the ecosystem and lowers the health of the ecosystem Only simple ecosystem structures with low species diversity are affected by a loss in species diversity