Coral Reefs

Coral Reefs

          Coral Reefs are structures under water that are covered with great varieties of corals. Corals are colonies of relatively small animals that are usually found in clear waters. Coral reefs are often called the "rainforests of the sea" and they form some of earth's most colorful and fascinating ecosystems. Without the corals the coral reefs would be a bare land with very few living things. 

Corals

          Corals are animals, not plants! They lives in big groups and each individual coral is called a Polyp. Polyp feeds on varieties of small organisms, such as microscopic plankton and small fish. The polyp's tentacles don't move, it kills its prey using their nematocysts (see vocabulary). The tentacles then compress to bring the prey into its digestive system. Once digested, the stomach reopens, allowing the wastes out and prepares for its next hunt. Their poison is usually too weak to harm humans, with the only exception of Fire Coral.

Environment Influence

          Corals are fairly sensitive to environment changes. Scientist have predicted that about 50% of our current corals would be wiped out by 2030. This caused many countries to pass laws that protect these precious animals. Corals can die if there is too much nutrient in the water which causes algae to take over. They can also die if the water changes by just one or two degrees and even when salinity decreases too much. Human activities such as runoff, mooring, fishing, diving, mining and construction lead them to destruction.