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CyberDodo and Coral (1-16)

What is the secret of coral? 2/2

Does coral grow quickly?

As Mother Nature has made diversity one of her basic principles, there are as many answers to this question as there are species. However, the standard growth range is between a few millimetres up to tens of centimetres annually.

But the true secret of so-called hermatypical coral lies elsewhere

This is found in the agreement it has made with microscopic algae called zooxanthella to help each other mutually. Due to photosynthesis, algae transform sun rays into substances that can be assimilated by the polyps to build their skeletons, and as for zooxanthella, they benefit from coral waste, so this is a perfectly harmonious relationship.

A harmonious relationship that is endangered by pollution, global warming and extreme meteorological events (Cyclones, etc.) which cause the loss of zooxanthella; coral therefore becomes a victim of bleaching and dies on a very large scale, often exceeding 50% of a colony.

But not all coral has a symbiotic relationship with an alga, why? Very simply because they do not need light to develop, they are part of the ahermatypical type species, which can proliferate at great depths.

Why preserve coral?

The tourism industry would reply that it represents one of the major attractions of destinations which are enriched by its exceptional beauty; nature lovers would talk about the extraordinary abundance of coral, as well as the thousands of species which interact with it.

CyberDodo would simply tell you that if only human beings, from our ancestors to our generation, had been caring enough to appreciate biodiversity that only started to be measured when it began to deteriorate dramatically, their children and their childrens children would also have benefited, and it is up to us to protect coral, like other living species, so that future generations can appreciate its beauty.

And not just by looking at photos or videos from before

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