The Coral Ecosystem And How It Is Changing :: essays research papers

red precious coral reefs be virtuoso of natures most magnificent creations, filled with thousands of unique and valuable plants and animals. More than one quarter of all marine animals is dependent on coral reefs. Coral reefs are also a source of food and income for millions of people too. The coral reef ecosystems benefit humans commercially, recreationally and environmentally. Because of the complex interconnections between coral reefs, mangrove forests, sea grass beds, and many other different plants and animals, coral is really susceptible to destruction. One low change in any of these things merchant ship affect mass quantities of coral. That is why it is important to educate people about coral and how complex of a species they really are. That is the purpose of this report, to educate you and tiller you aware of that complexity. Coral is often mistakenly identified as a rock, but in all actuality, it is an animal. The actual coral is dispassionate of small animals cal led coral polyps. Most polyps are very small, although rare species can generate quite large. One coral branch or mound is composed of thousands of polyps. These thousands of polyps are called a coral colony. Polyps are nocturnal and stay at heart their skeletons during the day. However, at night they can be seen when they stick their tentacles out to feed. Corals make in many different ways. Some species are hermaphrodites, and produce both(prenominal) sperm and eggs, and some are single sexed organisms. They can sick both sexually or asexually. In most species, the egg and sperm are released into the water and random fertilization occurs. This is called coral spawning. The larva is attracted to the light and swims to the break through of the water where it remains for weeks. If the larva can survive without being eaten by predators, it testament sink back to the bottom of the ocean floor. Hear it will cast up itself to a hard substrate and will grow into a coral polyp. At this point, the coral polyp begins to throw up asexually. As new polyps are built and added a colony develops. Eventually the coral colony matures and begins to reproduce sexually again, adding to the ever-continual cycle of life. One of the most amazing aspects of coral rearing is that of mass coral spawning. In many parts of the world, on the homogeneous night of the year, every coral will spawn at the equivalent time.