Name the creature that builds the coral reefs and explain the phenomenon and effect of driving the polyps away

Question

The United Nations is being asked to step in to protect a barrier reef which lies just off Belize in Central America. Island dwellers fear its erosion could endanger their homes and livelihoods if action is not taken soon for people dependent on coral .

Answer 1

Coral reefs are formed by a unique symbiotic relationship between the coral polyp and the zooxanthellae which live within its tissues. The zooxanthellae use sunlight and create nutrients for the coral organism through photosynthesis. There is a lot of concern for coral reefs because increasing water temperatures are causing the coral organism to expel the zooxanthella from its tissues. Without this symbiotic relationship the coral animal has no source of food or protection from sunlight. This is how coral bleaching occurs. Depending on the species of coral, some are more susceptible to bleaching than others are. After coral bleaching occurs the coral animal itself dies and becomes calcium carbonate rubble. This rubble is easily broken down by wave action and so nations bordered by oceans are particularly vulnerable to wave damage, but they can also lose a great source of food and marine diversity with the loss of coral reefs.

Answer 2

Coral, a type of microorganism, builds the coral reefs. Coral reefs are built from the skeletons of dead marine organisms that contain calcium carbonate. The skeletons are broken up and then made into a reef. Coral reefs have a lot of biodiversity, and many island nations are dependent on them for fishing, so if the polyps are destroyed, species could become extinct and economies could suffer.

Answer 3

coral is a living creature. the coral is it's exoskeleton. they grow very slowly.

fish live on and near coral and reefs protect land from high surf etc.

Answer 4

The coral itself is a creature, and it builds upon itself I believe.

Answer 5

I was wondering the same question myself yesterday