Crumbling Coral

The corals around the world are in trouble.  Fifteen years ago over 15 percent of the world's coral died off, and the situation has gotten worse, not better.  Recently a report came out predicting that 56 species of coral found in U.S. waters may become extinct by 2100 due to warming temperatures and increasing acidity.  Coral are under stress due to warming seas, blast fishing, overfishing, agricultural runoff and ocean waters absorbing more and more carbon dioxide.  Eighty percent of corals in Southeast Asia are endangered.  50% of all coral may be gone by 2030.  A grim picture.

Coral reefs are a treasure trove of biodiversity.  Losing coral cannot help but affect the fish, mollusks, sponges and crustaceans that inhabit the reefs.  Coral provides both food and shelter to 25% of all marine creatures.

Source:  Wikipedia

Coral is a colony of small animals called polyps with tentacles and central mouth location - sort of like tiny octopus but they are actually more closely related to sea anemones.  They secrete calcium carbonate which creates the "house" or skeleton where they live.  Polyps can eat plankton or even small fish using their tentacles that have stinging cells, but most get the majority of their nutrition from the algae that live inside the polyps.  When under stress the polyps eject the algae and eventually die.

Source:  Wikipedia

There are many different types of coral - pillar coral...

Source:  Wikipedia

brain coral...

Source:  Wikipedia

staghorn coral...

Source:  Wikipedia

and sea fans.

Source:  Wikipedia

People are supposed to be smarter than animals, but animals aren't the ones destroying the planet they live on.  To learn more and see a video, click here.