What is coral in simple words?

True gems of the ocean, essential for marine life, coral reefs are at a crossroads in the battle for the ocean, climate and biodiversity.

Summary

What is coral?

Corals are small, mini-anemone-like animals called polyps that can form colonies. Together these polyps form a common skeleton. Corals belong to a large family of stinging animals – Cnidaria. Coral reefs are made up of many species of coral that together form an ecosystem, which is a very specific natural environment made up of different plants and animals. Coral reefs provide shelter, food reserves and nurseries for their many inhabitants, from tiny algae to numerous fish and invertebrates, as well as sea turtles and sharks.

Coral: plant or animal?

For several centuries the nature of this strange organism, which resembles small flowering trees attached to rocks at the bottom of the sea, has been the subject of much debate among naturalists. Corals are small animals called polyps, shaped like miniature sea anemones that can form colonies. Together these polyps form a common skeleton. The first observations were made in the Mediterranean by Pliny the Elder (1st century AD) on red coral (the same one from which jewelry is made). Having risen to the surface, the coral quickly dies. Therefore, it was considered a sea plant that turned to stone when taken out of the water. Only in the middle of the 18th century was it recognized as an animal, assigned to the large family of stinging animals – Cnidaria.

Coral”, a new program of the Oceanographic Institute

After turtles, sharks, jellyfish, the deep sea and the Mediterranean, the Oceanographic Institute has chosen coral reefs as its new thematic program. Several events will mark 2020, largely dedicated to these ecosystems, as magnificent as they are fragile. Book “Coral – a treasure that must be preserved”, photo exhibition by David Dubilet, “IMMERSION”, a sensational exhibition that can be seen from June 2020 at the Oceanographic Museum, a thematic tour with a highlight Aquarium in coral colors, a pool with fluorescent corals, animation for general public, scientific or public events, projections.

How do corals reproduce?

Why are corals important?

Corals (more than 1600 species) help form some of the most important and complex ecosystems on the planet: coral reefs, which are home to thousands of algae, more than 4000 species of fish and thousands of other animals. True oases of life, coral reefs occupy only 0,2% of the world’s oceans, but are home to 30% of marine biodiversity! Their ecosystems provide direct livelihoods to 500 million people worldwide through fishing, and their reefs protect coastlines from waves and tsunamis more effectively than any man-made structure. They are a major tourist attraction and contribute a significant portion of the economic income of the tropical regions where they occur. Australia, Indonesia, the Philippines, more than a hundred countries benefit from this “reef tourism”. Finally, the reefs offer promising medical prospects related to the study of cell aging or the production of new molecules for human or animal health.

Coral bleaching or coral bleaching?

We’re talking coral bleaching (and teeth whitening)! Coral bleaching occurs when symbiotic algae living in their tissues are expelled, exposing the white, calcareous skeleton. This stress is caused either by bacteria or viruses (then the corals become sick), pollutants, or rising seawater temperatures. It’s this last point that worries climate scientists. According to the special report “The Ocean and the Cryosphere in a Changing Climate,” published by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) in September 2019, the ocean has absorbed more than 90% of the heat accumulated in the atmosphere due to the greenhouse effect since the Industrial Revolution! Marine heat waves (comparable to our land-based heat waves) are likely to become 20 times more frequent even if atmospheric temperature increases remain at 2°C. These heat waves are harming coral reefs, 90% of which could disappear. CORAL REEF, rock-like formations found in shallow areas of tropical seas. They are created by the slow accumulation of calcium carbonate, produced by numerous generations of marine polyps for protection from predators, to attach to the bottom to resist sea waves, etc. When an individual dies, its coral skeleton remains and the reef expands as a result. The way in which the coral, and therefore the reef, grows depends largely on the depth, prevailing currents and temperature of the surrounding seawater. Main types of reefs – bordering and BARRIER. Coral reef. Coral reefs are the largest structures created by living organisms. Coral islands arise under certain conditions. As fringing and barrier reefs grow, they develop typical features such as a water-covered coral platform called a coral bed, sandy islands, and a lagoon filled with coral debris that is home to living coral. Under the layer of living corals of the reef there are accumulations of dead corals and fragments of ancient origin, which serve as the foundation for an existing colony. Corals grow only if they are constantly covered with sea water, but at a depth of less than 50 m – where sunlight still penetrates. The water should be clear and contain enough food for the corals. On any reef, only the surface layers of corals are alive, since only this layer is constantly supplied with water, food, oxygen and light. Scientific and technical encyclopedic dictionary.

See what “CORAL REEF” is in other dictionaries:

• Coral reef – Coral Reef: Coral reef calcareous geological structures formed by colonial coral polyps Coral Reef film directed by Maurice Glaze, released in 1938 See also Coral (disambiguation) Reef (disambiguation) . Wikipedia
• CORAL REEF — A long ridge of coral cliffs in the sea. Explanation of 25000 foreign words that have come into use in the Russian language, with the meaning of their roots. Mikhelson A.D., 1865. CORAL REEF A coral cliff in the sea, that is, corals stuck to underwater rocks, . . Dictionary of foreign words of the Russian language
• Coral reef – an underwater or low surface ridge formed from the calcareous skeletons of corals. A coral reef covers or borders rocky areas of the seabed in some areas of the world’s oceans. EdwART. Explanatory Naval Dictionary, 2010 . Marine Dictionary
• CORAL REEF — CORAL REEF, a calcareous reef formed mainly by the skeletons of colonial corals in shallow areas of tropical seas of normal salinity and at an average temperature of not lower than 20°C. The total area of ​​coral reefs in the World Ocean. . Modern encyclopedia
• coral reef — A rock-like formation consisting of calcareous structures secreted by coral polyps, cemented in various ways, such as by coralline algae. [http://www.oceanographers.ru/index.php?option=com glossary&Itemid=238] Topics. Technical Translator’s Guide
• coral reef — An underwater limestone structure formed in tropical seas at shallow depths (from 1 to 50 m) by colonial corals, calcareous algae, bryozoans and other reef-forming organisms. → Fig. 71 . Dictionary of Geography
• coral reef – an underwater or low surface ridge formed from the calcareous skeletons of corals. Coral reefs cover or fringe rocky areas of the seabed in some areas of the World Ocean at depths of no more than 50-60 m . Marine Biographical Dictionary
• Coral reef — Stages of formation of coral structures: a reef in shallow water near a volcanic island; b sea level rise and flooding of a volcanic island; to low islands; 1 volcanic island; 2 reef; 3 lagoon; 4 low islands. CORAL REEF. . Illustrated Encyclopedic Dictionary
• Coral Reef (film) – The Coral Reef (film, 1938) The Coral Reef Le Récif de corail Genre drama, adventure Director Maurice Glaize Screenwriter Jean Marte Cha. Wikipedia
• Coral reef (disambiguation) – Coral Reef: Coral reef calcareous geological structures formed by colonial coral polyps Coral Reef film directed by Maurice Glaze, released in 1938 See also Coral (disambiguation) Reef (disambiguation) . Wikipedia