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Sunday Reading - Underwater Kingdoms


Underwater Kingdoms

 

Coral reefs are underwater ecosystems made from the skeletons of hard coral colonies. Each colony is composed of multiple polyps called corals—animals with tentacles around a mouth at one end and sac-like bodies at the other that attach to a surface and secrete calcium carbonate for protection. Over thousands of years, these secretions accumulate to form habitats that support about 25% of marine species, even though they cover less than 1% of the ocean floor.

> The first coral reefs formed hundreds of millions of years ago. (More, w/video)
> Coral polyps are tiny animals whose mouths both consume food and expel waste. (More)

> See how coral reefs get their color. (More)

Known as the "rainforest of the seas," coral reefs are found in tropical and subtropical waters of more than 100 countries, with larger reef systems concentrated in the Indo-Pacific, Caribbean, and the Red Sea. 

> View a collection of images and videos of coral reefs from around the world. (More)

> Explore a map of coral reefs around the world and the extent of coral bleaching.  (More)

In the US, coral reefs provide $3.4B in annual economic value through fisheries, coastal protection against wave damage, and tourism. However, stressors such as rising temperatures, ocean acidification, and pollution have weakened reefs and caused coral bleaching. This phenomenon sees corals expel zooxanthellae, turning corals white, depriving them of their food source, and making them susceptible to disease.

> Climate change threatens coral reefs by disrupting the symbiotic relationship between corals and algae due to rising ocean temperatures. (More)

> See tips for protecting coral reefs. (More)

Discover more: 

> Watch a time-lapse of staghorn coral polyps—a type of hard coral—over several weeks in an aquarium. (More, w/video)

> Explore the history, structure, and species of Australia's Great Barrier Reef with Sir David Attenborough. (More)

> During coral bleaching, corals exhibit an immune system-like response to protect themselves. (More, w/video)

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