With how well we take care of our oceans, the only corals that exist will be in our tanks
.
IF that were the case, we would have a lot more to worry about then aquarium coral species.
If reefs go down, we probably will as well.
They feed, sustain and employ too much of the world.
Huge issues pertaining to coastal geography, grassbeds, estuaries, mangroves, nurseries for countless fishes, vital habitat for pelagic fishes forage fishes etc. all revolve around reef life.
Arguably the smallest negative impact will be the loss of aquarium corals.
If you imagine reefs corals to represent a repository to re-seed the planets dead reefs....don't.
We would not survive long enough for the terra....er....mari-forming to regrow the lost immensity of global reefs and their productivity.
Its not reefs or no reefs.
Its more like reefs or no more us.
You know, the soundbites like the "rainforests of the seas"..."the planets lungs" etc.
Take reefs out of the equation and we may see a chain reaction of existance changing consequence.
Steve