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A number of forces threaten the survival of coral reef organisms, as well as the structural integrity of the reefs themselves. Many coral reefs are plagued by predatory species, bleaching, and the effects of various human activities. Certain biological factors, such as the fish and invertebrates that feed on the soft tissues of reef builders and the organisms that bore into coral rock, may contribute to the destruction of coral reefs. One of the most destructive creatures known is Acanthaster planci, the crown-of-thorns starfish, which during the 1960s multiplied spectacularly and removed the soft tissues from large areas of many ...(100 of 3327 words)

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