Coral reefs are vibrant ecosystems that can be witnessed from above or by snorkeling and scuba diving, but are also integral parts of our oceans and provide humans with many advantages.
Coral may look like plants, but they are actually animals called Cnidarians (related to jelly fish and sea anemones). Their bodies consist of polyps with mouth openings surrounded by tentacles for feeding off floating algae, plankton, and fish.
They’re animals
Corals may look like plants or rocks, but they’re unquestionably animals. Corals meet all five criteria used to classify animals: multicellularity, feeding on other organisms for sustenance, internal digestive system with bacteria lining its walls, embryonic development as part of their lifespan, mobility. In addition, corals stand out by living attached to ocean floors rather than floating freely through water bodies.
Corals belong to the Cnidaria phylum, along with anemones, jellyfish and sea anemones. This group of soft-bodied creatures share similar body structures: tentacles equipped with stinging cells are attached at their mouth at the top of their bodies for feeding purposes.
Coral colonies reproduce both asexually and sexually through budding and fertilization, producing new polyps that either adhere directly to existing coral skeletons, or float about until they find somewhere suitable to settle down. A coral colony may consist of thousands of these individual polyps that range in size from pencil tip diameter up to foot diameter.
Corals do not possess eyes, relying instead on their tentacle arms to find and capture tiny floating zooplankton for sustenance. When one hits their tentacle arm it triggers tiny spring-loaded barbs called nematocysts which stun prey before swallowing whole. This process repeats daily to ensure corals stay alive.
They’re symbiotic
Coral reefs are highly complex ecosystems, hosting an immense diversity of marine life and often referred to as “rainforests of the sea.” While most people know this fact, most don’t realize that coral is actually not a plant but instead related to jellyfish and anemones; not rooted into the ocean floor, coral rely instead on their relationships with algae for sustenance and food sources in order to thrive.
Mutualism describes this symbiotic relationship between coral and zooxanthellae, where both organisms benefit from one another. Algae supply carbon dioxide and nutrients necessary for coral survival while coral provides protection from predators while absorbing solar energy via polyps.
Coral reefs don’t merely rely on their relationship with algae to thrive; they also share numerous mutualistic relationships with other reef-dwelling animals such as parrotfish. Parrotfish nibble on coral to digest any attached algae, and later expel digested coral as sand that contributes to white beaches we love so much.
Coral reefs rely on both sexual reproduction and asexual reproduction for health maintenance, with both methods contributing to maintaining coral reefs. Asexual reproduction produces genetically identical new polyps, which may either form their own colonies or join existing ones. Corals also reproduce through fragmentation when part of one colony breaks off and forms its own separate one.
They’re cnidarians
Coral, anemones, jellyfish and Portuguese Man o’ War are all members of the same group of marine invertebrates known as cnidarians (knee-DAIR-ee). All cnidarians share a body plan with radial symmetry; their tentacles can also be triggered to release barbed threads tipped with poison.
Coral reef animals use these stinging cells to capture prey or protect themselves from predators, as well as to form beneficial relationships with tiny algae (zooxanthellae) that live inside coral cells to harness sunlight for energy.
Zooxanthellae are responsible for giving coral its striking colors. By converting ultraviolet light into energy that the coral can use for photosynthesis, red, yellow, green and pink pigments are produced. A coral which loses significant numbers of its zooxanthellae may become white-tinged and bleached – an immediate threat to any reef system.
Corals reproduce either asexually or sexually by releasing eggs and sperm into the water, where they will travel via ocean currents until finding suitable places to settle – becoming new colonies of coral.
Corals reproduce at night, following a cycle governed by lunar phases. This allows them to synchronize mating with high and low tide cycles for maximum safety from waves; its framework of crevices and caves also serves as habitat for an incredible diversity of sea life, making coral reefs one of the world’s richest ecosystems.
They’re clean
Coral reefs are among the world’s most biodiverse marine ecosystems, providing food, shelter and mates for thousands of species of fish and marine life while helping regulate global climate.
Coral reefs not only feed their symbiotic algae, but they also actively clean the waters they inhabit by filtering out harmful particulates and sediment carried to deeper waters by currents. Corals use their hard skeletons as protective barriers from predators while also serving as substrates that support plant and animal life growth.
Coral reefs can even help form beaches by secreting sand through their skeletons, filtering sediment from the ocean. A single green humphead parrotfish has been estimated to produce up to 200lbs (90kg) annually from nibbling on coral reefs.
Coral reefs are beautiful yet delicate ecosystems. To thrive and stay healthy, coral requires clear water that’s free from sediment to allow them to absorb sunlight. To assist with coral care, use distilled or reverse osmosis water when making soap/vinegar solutions to avoid using potentially toxic water that could harm coral. Afterward, dip a sponge or soft cloth into this solution and wipe gently over coral. After this step has been completed, rinse off with clean water to rinse away any remaining soap residue or vinegar residue that lingers lingering soap/vinegar residue before using clean water to rinse it over coral for proper care.
They’re strong
Corals are invertebrate animals related to jellyfish and sea anemones that form beautiful living structures known as reefs.
Reefs are massive ecosystems comprised of colonies of identical creatures known as polyps. These cylinder-shaped animals create hard calcium carbonate skeletons which they attach to the seafloor through. Furthermore, polyps have special cells called harpoon cells for attachment, prey capture and defense purposes.
Coral reefs rely heavily on energy from photosynthetic algae known as zooxanthellae that live within their tissues to supply energy in exchange for shelter and nutrition.
Coral reefs are one of the world’s most diverse and complex natural systems, hosting an abundance of marine species like fish, invertebrates and plants – not to mention alligator gars! Coral reefs also serve as natural barriers against erosion and act as protective barriers during storms.
Corals can reproduce both asexually and sexually, with asexual reproduction allowing them to quickly expand in size and spread. Corals produce symbiotic algae which helps them survive while giving their vibrant colors their vibrant appearance – one such system being Australia’s Great Barrier Reef which can even be seen from space!
They’re vital to the ocean
Coral reefs play a vital role in ocean ecosystems around the world, serving as food sources and shelter for over 25% of fish species, along with other wildlife and plant life. Furthermore, these ecosystems contribute to water quality and climate by absorbing carbon dioxide emissions, preventing erosion, and stabilizing coastlines.
Corals are colorful invertebrate animals that live in colonies known as polyps. Polyps are responsible for building the hard coral skeletons found on coral reefs. Each polyp has an open mouth with tentacles attached at one end that gather food or sting other creatures that come too close. Inside of its body are digestive and reproductive tissues to ensure survival of its colony.
Coral reefs boast vibrant colors due to an ecosystem involving various forms of algae that reside within its tissue, known as symbiosis. In return for providing shelter and light absorption for photosynthesis purposes, the algae provide protection from coral attacks while giving back protection from UV light for photosynthesis purposes.
Corals reproduce by either creating clones of themselves asexually, or sexually by releasing sperm and eggs into the water that will then fertilize to form new polyps or coral colonies. Reproduction increases genetic diversity while expanding colonies; corals that cannot reproduce asexually tend to die off over time.