Brain+Coral

> > Phylum: Cnidaria > Class: Anthozoa > Subclass: Hexacorallia > Order: Scleractinia > Suborder: Faviida > Family: Faviidae
 * [[image:silverscience47/corlreef.jpg width="445" height="346" align="left"]] __**Phylogentic: **__
 * Taxonomy

__**Adaptations: **__ -Through photosynthesis, zooxanthellae convert carbon dioxide and water into oxygen and carbohydrates. The coral polyp uses carbohydrates as a nutrient. The polyp also uses oxygen for respiration and in turns, returns carbon dioxide to the zooxanthellae. Through this exchange, coral saves energy that would otherwise be used to eliminate the carbon dioxide. -Nitrogen and phosphorus are cycled between zooxanthellae and coral polyps. For example, zooxanthellae take in ammonia given off as waste by the polyp, and return amino acids. -Zooxanthellae also promote polyp calcification by removing carbon dioxide during photosynthesis. Under optimum conditions, this enhanced calcification builds the reef faster than it can be eroded by physical or physical or biological factors. -Corals compete for living space on the reef. Some soft corals secrete toxins to eliminate competitors. Some reef-building corals can actually digest the tissue of an invading coral.
 * -Reef-building corals have a mutualistic relationship with zooxanthellae, microscopic algae that live with coral polyp's tissues. Both the polyp and the zooanthellae benefit. For this reason, reef-building corals are found only in areas where symbiotic zooxanthellae can take in light for photosynthesis.

__**Life History:**__
 * ==Brain Coral Reproduction Creating New Reefs ==

The reproduction brain corals allow for brain coral reefs to begin all over the oceans, with the eggs and sperm all coming from an individual coral! The reproduction brain corals are known as broadcast spawning. Reproduction brain corals are quite interesting with the corals releasing gametes, which are eggs and sperm, into the water. These reproduction brain corals allows for one single coral to release thousands of gametes into the water at one time. The gametes actually fuse during fertilization in the water and form brain coral larva known as planula.


 * ===**Brain Coral Reproduction Each Year **===

The larva that comes from the reproduction brain corals is usually pink in color and of an elliptical shape. The reproduction brain corals of a small to mid-sized colony will allow for thousands of this larva to be produced each year! Of course, not all of the larva that are a result of the reproduction brain corals survive, but the large number of larva that are created make up for the fact that not all reproduction brain corals are successful.


 * ====**Brain Coral Reproduction Alternative Method **====

Some brain corals do not reproduce in this way. Instead, reproduction brain corals may occur asexually. The way that this works is that small pieces of the coral will break off of the other colony and migrate elsewhere. Each type of brain coral has its own reproduction practices.



__**Niches:**__
 * Some people assume that the coral reef is part of the ocean biome. Even though they are found in the ocean, they are separate entities. A coral reef biome is found in a shallow area of clear water within the ocean. The temperature in this biome is usually from 70 degrees to 85 degrees.


 * Coral reef biomes are very common. You will find them mainly in the tropical areas. This includes the Eastern coast of Africa, the Southern coast of India, the coasts of Australia, the Red Sea, off the coast of Florida in the United States, along the Caribbean, and along the coast of Brazil.


 * The largest corral reef biome in the world is found in the Northeast of Australia. It is called the Great Barrier Reef. It extends over 1,200 miles and it is a great attraction for many tourists that come to this area. Believe it or not, you can actually see this coral reef biome from space!


 * The most diverse coral reef is found around Indonesia. Those found in the Western bodies of water have about 85% more diversity than those found in the Caribbean. Experts believe that the latitude of the coral reef biomes as well as the movement direction of the water affects what is able to live there. People come from all over the world to go exploring some of the remarkable coral reefs out there.

__**Importance to Humans:**__


 * They are important fishery and nursery areas, and more recently have proved to be very important economically as tourist attractions. Reefs provide protection from erosion to coastlines and sand for beaches. However, reefs located near coastal populations are showing increasing signs of stress and are not faring as well as reefs which are more distant from centers of human population.

__**Hum****an Impact:**__

 **Don't Pollute - One pint of oil can produce an oil slick that will cover one acre (approximately the area of a football field). - One part of oil per million parts of water (about equivalent to one drop of oil in a filled bathtub) can produce tastes and odours noticeable to humans. - 35 parts per million can cause a visible oil slick on water and can damage aquatic organisms. - 50 parts per million can foul water treatment plants and cause equipment damage. - Oil in landfills can leach into ground water, carrying contaminanats and affecting the odour and taste of the water. - Plastic, and other garbage thrown in the sea, harms and kills reef life and coral reefs.**

__**﻿Reference:**__ []
 * <span style="color: #000000; font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 120%;">Human Impact Pic&info: []
 * Adaptations: []
 * Life History: []
 * Niches Pic & Info: []
 * Importance to humans: [|http://water.epa.gov/type/oceb/habitat/coral_index.cfm#important]
 * Phylogantic: []

<span style="font-family: Georgia,serif; font-size: 130%;">**﻿By: Tiffany Williamson & Brad Bramlett**