Coral
reefs
are structures produced by the skeletons of living
organisms, found in shallow, tropical marine waters with
little to no nutrients in the water. In
most reefs,
the predominant organisms are stony
corals,
colonial cnidarians that secrete an exoskeleton of
calcium carbonate
(limestone), which is the same material of the sea
shells, our bones and teeth. Coral reefs are considered
the Rain forest of the seas because of their high
productivity.
Photo
from the Bermuda Biological Station for Research
Photo courtesy of Diorys Pérez
Symmetrical Brain coral (Diploria
strigosa)
semi destroyed by sedimentation and semi smothered by
algae. When there is pollution, a lot of nutrients are
present in the water. The algae are more efficient than
the coral taking nutrients and grow faster smothering
the reef.
Symmetrical
Brain coral (Diploria strigosa)
with hyperplasm. This is a skeletal growth
anomaly observed mainly on brain corals. Its cause
is unknown but it is believed that it is linked to
the alteration of the coral’s genetic code due to
pollution, UV radiation from the sun, or maybe
heating.
Photo courtesy of Diorys Pérez
Photo courtesy of Diorys Pérez
Massive Starlet Coral (Siderastrea
siderea) colony
presenting black band disease. This is a
progressive and devastating black band with bacterium
that extends all over the colony killing it on its path.
When coral colonies are destroyed,
algae takes over smothering the former reef.
