With too few tritons on the reef, crown-of-thorns starfish populations can explode, jeopardizing the living coral that makes ... of full-grown sea turtles. One common defense against predators ...

One notable group is the black sea turtle (Chelonia mydas agassizii ... in tropical and subtropical waters, especially near coral reefs, seagrass beds and mangrove estuaries.

For example, hawksbill turtles eat lots of sea sponges, which would otherwise out-compete reef-building corals. So the turtles help to protect the coral reefs, which are crucial for the survival of ...

The coral reef systems of the Al Wajh lagoon on the Red Sea, the world's fourth largest ... nesting birds and turtles, and other species. This helps to reduce noise and light disturbance above ...