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CORAL BIOLOGY

What Are Corals?

Corals are small animals that live in the ocean, and even though they might look like rocks or plants, they are actually alive! Each coral is made up of many tiny creatures called polyps. These polyps build a hard shell around themselves out of something called calcium carbonate, which helps protect them. When a lot of these polyps live together, they create huge structures called coral reefs, which are home to tons of different ocean animals like fish, crabs, and sea turtles.
Corals are special because they have a partnership with tiny plants called algae, which live inside them. The algae use sunlight to make food, and they share that food with the corals to help them grow. In return, the corals give the algae a safe place to live. This teamwork is what gives corals their beautiful colors and helps coral reefs stay healthy. But corals are in danger because of things like pollution and climate change, so it’s really important to help protect them!

Types of Corals

Corals come in two main types: hard corals and soft corals. Hard corals, like brain coral or staghorn coral, are the ones that build reefs. They have a tough skeleton made out of calcium carbonate, which is like a rock. This skeleton is what gives the reef its shape and structure. The polyps of hard corals are small and stay in place, and over time, they create large coral reefs that can grow to be as big as buildings. These reefs provide homes for many ocean creatures and help protect coastlines from big waves.
Soft corals, on the other hand, don’t have a hard skeleton. They are more flexible and often look like plants or bushes swaying in the water. Examples of soft corals include sea fans and leather corals. They don’t build reefs like hard corals, but they still play an important role in the ocean by providing shelter and food for sea creatures. Because soft corals are bendy, they can move with the currents and waves, making them really fun to watch in the water!