Coral reefs are among the most diverse ecosystems on the planet...and the most threatened. Artificial reefs may help stem the loss of these valuable and beautiful habitats, with shipwrecks, old subway cars, and other structures taking the place of living coral or rocky outcrops. The following Web sites introduce artificial reefs, reef ecology, and some ongoing efforts to establish reef communities...

From the recently launched SmithsonianEducation.org Web site comes an excellent set of learning resources based on Exploring Marine Ecosystems, a permanent exhibit at the Smithsonian's National Museum of Natural History. The activities and lesson plans in Contrasts in Blue help students explore two distinctively different marine ecosystems: the Caribbean coral reef and the rocky coast of Maine....

The Khaled bin Sultan Living Oceans Foundation is a "non-profit environmental science organization and ocean research foundation established to help preserve, protect and restore the world's oceans and aquatic resources through research, education, and outreach." The foundation is based out of Annapolis, Maryland and focuses on coral reef preservation. For science educators, the foundation offers...

This well-designed website was developed by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration's National Ocean Service (NOS) to educate high school students and others about coral reefs. The site contains the following three main components: a tutorial providing an overview of coral reefs; two downloadable lesson plans; and links to a variety of online information about coral reefs from the...