 This study provides a comprehensive analysis of global shallow water benthic complexity, which can be used to assess the health of coral reef ecosystems. The authors identified areas of high benthic complexity, which are important habitats for many species of fish and other marine life. They also noted that these areas are often not protected by existing marine protected area networks, highlighting the need for improved protection of these areas. This article was authored by Duay Lee and Gregory P. Asner.