- Corals are ancient and simple animals. They are relatives of the jellyfish and anemones of the Phylum Cnidaria.
- An individual coral is nothing more than hundreds and thousands of identical polyps. In turn, these polyps form a colony.
- A polyp is a very small and simple organism. It consists of a simple stomach topped by a tentacle-bearing mouth.
- The polyps extend their tentacles to sting and ingest tiny organisms. These organisms are plankton and other small creatures.
- Each polyp of hard corals excretes a calcium carbonate exoskeleton over long periods of time. In that way, they build the structure of a coral reef.
- Many other species, like fish, algae, and microorganisms, make their homes on and around the coral reef system.
- Coral reefs are some of the most diverse ecosystems in the world.
- About one-third of all marine fish species live part of their lives on coral reefs.
- Coral reefs contain 25% of the world’s marine fish species.
- Reefs are where many fish and sea creatures choose to spawn. The protection of the reef means eggs will be safe from predators.
- Coral reefs are second only to rainforests in biodiversity of species.
- Reefs only occur in shallow areas that are reachable by sunlight. This is due to the symbiotic relationship between coral and algae.
- Various types of microscopic algae, known as Symbiodinium, live inside of the coral. They provide them with food and help them to grow faster. In many ways, reef-building corals are animals that act like plants. They stay in one place and get some of their energy from the sun.
- Coral reefs are all around the world in tropical and subtropical oceans.
- They are usually found in shallow areas at a depth of less than 50m. However, some coral reefs extend even deeper, up to about 130m deep.
- Coral reefs protect coastlines from storms.
- They provide billions of dollars’ worth of food and jobs every year to people around the world.
- Coral reefs are necessary for life in the ocean. All the coral reefs in the world add up to less than one percent of the sea floor, which is an area about the size of France.
- Coral reefs also help to improve the surrounding water quality. They act as a kind of filter that traps things floating in the water, which makes for cleaner water all around.
- Due to scientists, many parts of a coral reef can be a part of medications to treat cancer and other illnesses.
