TheGreenCommunity.org
Title
The Green Community - An online community for people who care about the world they live in.
Contact
- The Green Community
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- Hinsdale MA
- US 01235
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- +1.4136550182
Description
A Few Words about Coral Reefs
Coral reefs are formed by animals that belong to the same group as sea anemomes, jellyfish, and hydras. Individuals are called polyps and are usually less than 1" (2.54 cm) in diameter. A small number of species can actually measure as much as 1 foot. Each polyp has a mouth which is surrounded by tentacles. The bottom of the animal is attached to a hard surface. The polyp itself is soft -bodied and takes calcium out of the ocean water to build a limestone (calcium carbonate) exoskeleton, which is built along the lower portion of the body. As new polyps develop and grow the amount of limestone increases. When the animals eventually die, they leave the exoskeletons intact. After millions of years of polyp growth upon already existing limestone exoskeletons, huge reefs are created.
There are two types of corals. Hard Corals, which make tough exoskeletons in order to protect themselves, include such species as the elkhorn, brain, and star corals. The other type of corals are called Soft Corals or Gorgonians. This group includes sea whips and sea fans. these corals are more free moving because they lack rigid exoskeletons.
In terms of biological diversity, coral reefs have been compared to the richness of the land's tropical rainforests. This ecosystem provides shelter and food for a vast number of marine inhabitants. In fact, according to Reef Relief, "Coral reefs occupy less than one quarter of one percent of the earth's marine environment, yet they are home to more than a quarter of all known species. "Coral reefs are only found in warm or tropical waters with a temperature range of only 70° - 85° F.
