Answer:
Fish, corals, lobsters, clams, seahorses, sponges, and sea turtles are only a few of the thousands of creatures that rely on reefs for their survival. Cnidarian ecology is a complex subject indeed, because it is cnidarians, in particular corals, that are the builders of some of the richest and most complex ecosystems on the planet, coral reefs. Corals get their food from algae living in their tissues or by capturing and digesting prey. Corals also eat by catching tiny floating animals called zooplankton. At night, coral polyps come out of their skeletons to feed, stretching their long, stinging tentacles to capture critters that are floating by. The corals and algae have a mutualistic relationship. The coral provides the algae with a protected environment and compounds they need for photosynthesis. In return, the algae produce oxygen and help the coral to remove wastes. This is the driving force behind the growth and productivity of coral reefs.
How Coral Reefs are described.
A coral reef is an underwater ecosystem characterized by reef-building corals. Reefs are formed of colonies of coral polyps held together by calcium carbonate. They are most found at shallow depths in tropical waters, but deep water and cold-water coral reefs exist on smaller scales in other areas. The algae also give a coral its color; coral polyps are transparent, so the color of the algae inside the polyps show through. Coral reefs provide habitat for a large variety of marine life, including various sponges, oysters, clams, crabs, sea stars, sea urchins, and many species of fish. Coral reefs provide an important ecosystem for life underwater, protect coastal areas by reducing the power of waves hitting the coast, and provide a crucial source of income for millions of people. Coral reefs teem with diverse life. Thousands of species can be found living on one reef. A coral reef is an underwater ecosystem characterized by reef-building corals. Reefs are formed of colonies of coral polyps held together by calcium carbonate. They are most found at shallow depths in tropical waters, but deep water and cold-water coral reefs exist on smaller scales in other areas. Distribution. Worldwide in tropical latitudes. Physical Ocean Characteristics. Warm, clear, shallow, nutrient-poor waters. Keystone Species. Reef-building corals, sponges, coralline algae. Ecosystem Services. Fisheries, ecotourism, coastal protection.
Explanation:
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