Coral are tiny marine organisms called coral polyps that live in colonies and secrete calcium carbonate to form hard skeletons as they die. Coral polyps feed on zooplankton using stinging tentacles and are also nourished by algae living in their tissues. Coral reefs form in certain conditions, requiring sea temperatures between 21-30°C, shallow depths within 40m of sunlight, clear oxygenated water, plentiful zooplankton, and locations on eastern sides of land masses with warm currents.

1. Coral Reefs

2. What is coral?

3. What is coral?
It is a limestone rock made up of the skeletons of tiny
marine organisms called coral polyps.

4. What is coral?
It is a limestone rock made up of the skeletons of tiny
marine organisms called coral polyps.
They are animals related to sea anemones which exist in
large colonies.

5. What is coral?
It is a limestone rock made up of the skeletons of tiny
marine organisms called coral polyps.
They are animals related to sea anemones which exist in
large colonies.
As they die they leave behind a hard skeleton consisting of
calcium carbonate which appears like rock.

7. The coral polyps are carnivorous using tentacles to sting
and kill tiny zooplankton.

8. The coral polyps are carnivorous using tentacles to sting
and kill tiny zooplankton.
They are also nourished by minute, single-celled plants
called zooxznthellae that live within the coral tissue and
use sunlight to manufacture food for themselves and the
coral.

10. What is a coral reef?

11. What is a coral reef?
An accumulation of coral formed around the edges of
landmasses under certain conditions.

13. What are the necessary conditions for coral
growth?

14. What are the necessary conditions for coral
growth?
Sea temperature of not less than 21ºC (30 ºN - 30ºS)

15. What are the necessary conditions for coral
growth?
Sea temperature of not less than 21ºC (30 ºN - 30ºS)
Maximum 30-40m from the sea surface – the need for sun
light.

16. What are the necessary conditions for coral
growth?
Sea temperature of not less than 21ºC (30 ºN - 30ºS)
Maximum 30-40m from the sea surface – the need for sun
light.
Clear oxygenated water.

17. What are the necessary conditions for coral
growth?
Sea temperature of not less than 21ºC (30 ºN - 30ºS)
Maximum 30-40m from the sea surface – the need for sun
light.
Clear oxygenated water.
Plentiful supply of microscopic zooplankton.

18. What are the necessary conditions for coral
growth?
Sea temperature of not less than 21ºC (30 ºN - 30ºS)
Maximum 30-40m from the sea surface – the need for sun
light.
Clear oxygenated water.
Plentiful supply of microscopic zooplankton.
Not fresh or silt-laden water.

19. What are the necessary conditions for coral
growth?
Sea temperature of not less than 21ºC (30 ºN - 30ºS)
Maximum 30-40m from the sea surface – the need for sun
light.
Clear oxygenated water.
Plentiful supply of microscopic zooplankton.
Not fresh or silt-laden water.
Eastern sides of land masses – warm currents.