22/09/2025
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๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐: ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐ ๐๐๐ ๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐๐
Participant | Mikaella Angelica Pajares (BS Biology- AV41)
Science Trivia #3: ๐๐ผ๐ฟ๐ฎ๐น ๐ฅ๐ฒ๐ฒ๐ณ: ๐ง๐ต๐ฒ ๐จ๐ป๐๐๐ป๐ด ๐๐ฒ๐ฟ๐ผ ๐ผ๐ณ ๐๐ต๐ฒ ๐ฆ๐ฒ๐ฎ
Coral reefs may look fascinating, but they serve beyond looks. According to the
National Ocean Service, Coral reefs are housing over 4,000 underwater species and
marine life, providing habitat to approximately 25% of the world's marine life in total,
excluding the undiscovered. Despite covering less than 1% of the ocean floor, they are
still serving vitality, in terms of being nurseries for many commercial fish species and
serving as natural barriers, protecting coastlines from erosion and storm surges. A
critical component of this ecosystem is the symbiotic relationship between stony corals
and microscopic algae known as zooxanthellae. This partnership is the engine of the
reef's health and vibrancy. The zooxanthellae live within the coral's tissues, performing
photosynthesis to produce up to 90% of the coral's energy needs. In return, the coral
provides a protected environment and essential nutrients for the algae.
Coral reefs are remarkable marine ecosystem, often likened to an underwater
metropolis, built by tiny marine invertebrates called coral polyps. These polyps are the
master architects, working in vast colonies to secrete a hard, calcium carbonate
skeleton. Beyond their ecological significance, reefs provide substantial economic
benefits through tourism, fisheries, and as a source for new biomedical compounds.
References:
National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. (2025). Coral reef ecosystems.
NOAA Education.
https://www.noaa.gov/education/resource-collections/marine-life/coral-reef-eco
systems
Smithsonian Institution. (2024). Corals and coral reefs. Smithsonian Ocean.
https://ocean.si.edu/ocean-life/invertebrates/corals-and-coral-reefs
U. S. Environmental Protection Agency. (2025). Basic information about coral reefs.