Biodiversity is often very fragile, with certain species of flora and fauna being particularly sensitive to human activity. As a result, it is imperative that people treat their environment with care in order to preserve the ecological balance, as well as maintain potential sources of future drug design.
Scuba divers and snorkelers are advised not to touch coral because coral organisms are highly sensitive to human touch, to the point of it being potentially toxic and lethal to them. This could result in a significant and devastating loss of biodiversity. Hence people are advised to treat the fragile coral organisms with care.
The loss of biodiversity can have serious consequences for the study of medicine as well, since the coral reefs are populated by a variety of novel organisms that have the potential to provide a host of potential anti-inflammatory, anti-cancer and antiviral compounds. These compounds can, and have, provided the basis for novel drug design.