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Coral reefs are offshore deposits found in warm water. They're composed of an animal called coral. Corals are sessile animals, meaning they don't move and are positioned in one spot. They prey on small fish, and planktonic animals using their tentacles.

Corals live in colonies consisting of many individual animals, each of which are called polyps. Later in their lives corals produce a hard calcium carbonate skeleton, which provides protection for the coral and forms a reef (hence the name coral reef). Coral reefs are homes to many colorful fish, clear water, and other specimens. All coral reefs have a symbiotic relationship with algae. For example the algae produces food for the coral using sunlight and gives it its color, and in return the coral provides protection for the algae.

Coral Reef Conservation

One major cause for the decline of the coral population is coral bleaching. In coral bleaching, the coral gets bleached and looses its color and lacks food. This occurs when the symbiotic relationship between the algae and the coral discontinues. Other causes for the declining coral population are pollution, salinity, high temperature, sedimentation, excessive shade, and high UV radiations.

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Coral Glossary

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Offshore-land near the edge of an ocean, river, sea, or lake

Planktonic- small plantlike organisms such as algae

Symbiotic-mutually dependant