Zooxanthellae

Zooxanthellae is a celled plant that live in a tissue of living creatures.They provide a protected environment.Zooxanthellae provided food as a product to coral.This gives nutrients,food and plants to animals in the sea.Corals are not just the only similar corals of Zooxanthellae.Some of the other similar reefs include: -Anemones -Giant Calms -Sea Fans -Soft Coral -Jellyfish -Corals The coral in return provides protection as well as a nutrient rich environment for excellent algae growth.

Corals are completely dependent on the symbiotic algae. They would not be able to survive without them since they can’t produce sufficient amounts of food. The zooxanthellae can provide all the nutrients necessary, in most cases all the carbon needed for the coral to build the calcium carbonate skeleton.

Hard corals are reef builders and the symbiotic relation enables the coral to grow faster, which is not only partly responsible for the existence of coral reefs, but also vital and necessary.

Zooxanthellae are not only responsible for providing energy via photosynthesis, but also take up nutrients released by the corals metabolism such as nitrogen and carbon dioxide.

Zooxanthellae, single celled algae that reproduce by simple cell division, are described as the variety of yellowish – brown dinoflagellates living symbiotic with many marine animals.

Different strains have adapted to environments as permitted by their depth and the available light. Corals can house multiple strains of dinoflagellates which makes them quite adaptable to environmental changes.

Zooxanthellae enter the host animal through the water column. Corals can adjust the algae population on a daily basis by releasing or by taking up algae as needed.

The coral itself can control the quantity of algae living in its cell tissues by regulating the amount of waste provided for algae growth, or by limiting the light exposure and intensity by opening the polyp and exposing more or less algae to the light as needed. The coral has also the ability to release algae directly, which is also known as bleaching. In cases of excessive algae growth or temporary nutrient shortage, the coral can directly feed off the excess algae.

Maria Efthymiou & Stephanie Ergos