Corals Affected By Pollution

A coral reefs is one of the most beautiful ecosystems in Earth, within them, are many kinds of fish, crustaceans, and algae. Also, coral reefs are fragile and are nonrenewable, if they are destroyed, life in coast and beach will be severely affected. Coral reefs have a special temperature, salinity, and Ph. Corals are animals. They eat planktonik animals and small fishes
“Corals themselves are tiny animals which belong to the group cnidaria (the "c" is silent). Other cnidarians include hydras, jellyfish, and sea anemones. Corals are sessile animals, meaning they are not mobile but stay fixed in one place. They feed by reaching out with tentacles to catch prey such as small fish and planktonik animals.”Link #1 Page 2.
Corals are the home of many species, like shrimps, clams, sponges, mollusks, and star fish. If corals are destroyed, the species also are destroyed, and bigger animals dies of staring, all of these thanks to the food chain.
These reefs are called the rainforests of the ocean because of their diversity in flora and fauna.
Corals have a direct relationship with an alga called zooxanthellae. These algae live inside the coral, protecting the algae and allowing the algae to realize photosynthesis, the food produced by the plant is shared with the coral.
“Coral bleaching occurs when corals lose their zooxanthellae, exposing the white calcium carbonate skeletons of the coral colony. There are a number of stresses or environmental changes that may cause bleaching including disease, excess shade, increased levels of ultraviolet radiation, sedimentation, pollution, salinity changes, and increased temperatures.”Link # 2 Page 2
These algae need light from the sun to perform photosynthesis, if not, corals destruction occurs. That’s why oil spills affect algae. Affect the food chain killing the whole species.
“Protection of coral reefs depends on careful vessel management to avoid hitting the reef, reducing nearby outfalls and runoff, and careful tourists who respect the delicate communities”. Link 2 Page 2


1. - http://www.epa.gov/bioiweb1/coral/index.html
2. - http://www.epa.gov/OWOW/oceans/coral/index.html