How coral reefs are formed step by step
- how coral is formed
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- how reef is formed
Why are coral reefs important.
What are corals?
Coral make up some of the most diverse ecosystems in the world.
Formation of coral reefs pdfThousands of species rely on corals and the reefs they form for survival. Millions of people all over the world also depend on coral reefs for food, protection, and jobs.
Most of the time, a coral is made up of individual animals called polyps.
Each polyp has a stomach that opens at only one end. This opening, called the mouth, is surrounded by a circle of tentacles. The polyp uses these tentacles for defense, to capture small animals for food, and to clear away debris.
Food enters the stomach through the mouth. After the food is consumed, waste products are expelled through the same opening.
Most coral polyps feed at night. To capture their food, corals use stinging cells called nematocysts.
Coral bleaching
These cells are located in the coral polyp’s tentacles and outer tissues. If you’ve ever been stung by a jellyfish (a relative of corals), you’ve encountered nematocysts.
Nematocysts are capable of delivering toxins that assist them in capturing prey.
A coral's prey ranges in size from nearly microscopic an
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