Coral Reefs

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Polyp Noun

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[pol-ip]

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Polyp

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An individual coral animal, related to sea anemones, which lives in a colony and secretes a skeleton to form reefs.

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Example: This diagram shows a cross-section of a single coral polyp, labeling its key anatomical parts like the mouth, tentacles, and stomach.

Front

Zooxanthellae Noun

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[zoh-uh-zan-thel-ee]

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Zooxanthellae

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Microscopic symbiotic algae living within coral tissues, providing the coral with essential nutrients produced through photosynthesis.

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Example: This diagram shows a coral polyp and uses a magnified view to reveal the tiny algae called zooxanthellae living inside the coral's tissues.

Front

Symbiosis Noun

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[sim-bee-oh-sis]

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Symbiosis

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A close and long-term biological interaction between two different species, which can be mutualistic, commensal, or parasitic.

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Example: This image shows a clownfish living safely among a sea anemone's tentacles, a classic example of a symbiotic relationship in a coral reef.

Front

Mutualism Noun

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[myoo-choo-uh-liz-um]

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Mutualism

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A type of symbiotic relationship in which both interacting organisms derive a benefit from their close association.

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Example: A clownfish lives safely among a sea anemone's stinging tentacles. The fish is protected from predators, and in return, it cleans the anemone.

Front

Calcium Carbonate Noun

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[kal-see-um kar-buh-neyt]

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Calcium Carbonate

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The chemical compound (CaCO3) secreted by coral polyps to construct their hard, protective skeletons, forming the reef structure.

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Example: This diagram shows that coral polyps build their hard, protective base, called a skeleton, out of the chemical compound Calcium Carbonate (CaCO3).

Front

Calicle Noun

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[kal-i-kuhl]

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Calicle

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The hard, cup-shaped limestone skeleton secreted by an individual coral polyp that provides protection and structural support.

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Example: This diagram shows a coral polyp sitting in its protective, cup-shaped skeleton, which is called the calyx or calicle.

Front

Coral Bleaching Noun

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[kor-uhl bleech-ing]

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Coral Bleaching

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The process where stressed corals expel their symbiotic zooxanthellae, revealing their white skeleton and risking starvation.

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Example: This diagram shows that healthy coral has many symbiotic algae (zooxanthellae), but when stressed, it expels the algae, becoming white (bleached) and may die.

Front

Abiotic Factor Noun

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[ey-bahy-ot-ik fak-ter]

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Abiotic Factor

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A non-living physical or chemical component of an ecosystem, such as temperature or sunlight, that influences living organisms.

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Example: This image shows examples of abiotic factors, which are the non-living parts of an ecosystem, such as sunlight, water, wind, and temperature.

Front

Photic Zone Noun

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[foh-tik zohn]

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Photic Zone

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The uppermost layer of a body of water that receives sufficient sunlight to allow for photosynthesis to occur.

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Example: This diagram shows the photic zone as the top layer of the ocean, extending to 200 meters, where sunlight can penetrate for photosynthesis.

Front

Turbidity Noun

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[tur-bid-i-tee]

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Turbidity

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The measure of water cloudiness or haziness caused by suspended solid particles, which reduces light penetration for photosynthesis.

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Example: This image shows that as the amount of suspended particles in water increases, the turbidity (cloudiness) also increases, which is measured in NTU.