Reefs also clean the surrounding water through sponges that have filtering systems similar to water treatment plants

Slide 12 of 17

Notes:

Another function of the reef is to clean and filter surrounding waters.

In this way, reefs can be compared to water treatment plants. Filter-

feeding sponges, bivalve mollusks, crustaceans, worms, and echinoderms

all help to clean the waters surrounding the reef.