Which one of the following does NOT illustrate the importance of the Coral Reef?

Coral reefs provide numerous ecosystem services, but protecting communities from earthquakes is not one of them. Earthquakes are geological phenomena originating from the Earth's crust, and biological structures like reefs cannot prevent or mitigate their seismic impact. In contrast, coral reefs are well-documented as natural protective barriers against coastal erosion, storm surges, and high-energy waves, absorbing up to 97% of a wave's energy [2]. They are vital for human livelihoods, supporting commercial and recreational fisheries that provide food and employment for millions [5]. Furthermore, they contribute to the economy through tourism and provide physical materials; they are significant producers of biogenic calcium carbonate, which has historically been used as building material and contributes to beach sand formation [2]. While they offer protection against sea-level hazards like tsunamis to some extent by attenuating wave energy, they have no role in earthquake protection.

Sources

1. [1] Environment, Shankar IAS Acedemy .(ed 10th) > Chapter 4: Aquatic Ecosystem > 4.9.2. Functions of Coral Reefs > p. 51
2. [2] Environment and Ecology, Majid Hussain (Access publishing 3rd ed.) > Chapter 4: BIODIVERSITY > corAl reefs. > p. 54
3. [5] https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2352485518306637