Overview
Coral has the appearance of a beautiful undersea garden, but contrary to its appearance, coral is not a plant; it is technically classified as an animal. Coral reefs are located in over 100 countries around the world, and tend to thrive in warm climates.
Habitat
Because most varieties of coral have an optimal water temperature of between 73° and 84° Fahrenheit (between 23° and 29° Celsius), they tend to grow close to the equator, or in places where currents flow from the equator. They also require an environment with a high salinity – that is, they require water with a high salt content. Additionally, most varieties of coral require shallow water because they require sunlight to photosynthesize. However, some species of coral live at greater depths, with less light and at colder temperatures. Take the Lophelia variety of coral for example, which survives at 3,300 metres (10,800 ft) below sea level.
Nutrition
Looking at a picture of a coral, you may ask, How and what does it eat? Corals’ diet ranges from microscopic organisms to small fish. They use their venom-carrying tentacles to kill or restrain their prey, and then use their tentacles to carry the prey through the mouth to the stomach, which closes to seal the prey. The stomach reopens when digestion is complete.
Environmental Concern
Because of coral-mining, pollution, blast-fishing (using explosives to kill fish), disease, ocean acidification from greenhouse gases, and rising sea temperatures, coral populations are declining. In Southeast Asia, 80% of coral species are endangered. It is predicted that 50% of the world’s coral reefs may be destroyed by the year 2030.
Because of the threats to coral populations, many governments have introduced laws to protect coral reefs, including preventing people from removing corals, deliberately or undeliberately, as well as initiatives for coral restoration.
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