What animal is responsible for building tropical reefs? What is the term for this behavior? What kind
of symbiosis occurs within the tissues of these organisms? What will be an ideal response?
ANS:Answer
should include:
? Coral animals are responsible for the building of reefs. Corals are the polyp varieties of
the phylum cnidaria. They are radial symmetric and have stinging cells called
cnidoblasts on their tentacles.
? These corals are said to be Hermatypic, meaning "mound building." They build up the
reefs with their aragonite bodies which are enhanced with calcium carbonate.
Hermatypic corals occur in warm tropical waters with normal or slightly high salinity.
? Hermatypic corals are also very dependent on light availability due to the symbiotic
relationship with a dinoflagellate. These dinoflagellates are called zooxanthellae. They
photosynthesize and absorb wastes while in their coral host. The coral provides a stable
environment and the carbon dioxide and nutrients needed by the zooxanthellae. The
zooxanthellae are able to share oxygen and carbohydrates with the coral.
You might also like to view...
A naturally occurring, inorganic, crystalline solid, having characteristic physical properties and a
narrowly defined chemical composition:a. rock d. glass b. gem e. magma c. mineral
The role of the United Nations is to ________
A) develop international business cooperatives B) cooperate in solving international economic, social, cultural, and humanitarian problems C) make international laws regarding commerce and the environment D) maintain international environmental education standards E) regulate international travel, emigration, and immigration among member states
Which of the following has tentacles up 60 meters long?
A) Cnidarians B) Coccolithophores C) Ctenophores D) Foraminifers E) Radiolarians
The warm air being lifted in this map is mostly located in the ________ portion of the map.
A) northern
B) southern
C) eastern
D) western