They are also are a source of food and new medicines. Benefits of coral reef ecosystemsĬoral reefs protect coastlines from storms and erosion, provide jobs for local communities, and offer opportunities for recreation.
Unlike their shallow water relatives, which rely heavily on photosynthesis to produce food, deep sea corals take in plankton and organic matter for much of their energy needs. Since both partners benefit from association, this type of symbiosis is called mutualism.ĭeep-sea corals live in much deeper or colder oceanic waters and lack zooxanthellae. The algae also help the coral remove waste. In return, the algae produce carbohydrates that the coral uses for food, as well as oxygen. The coral provides a protected environment and the compounds zooxanthellae need for photosynthesis.
Shallow water, reef-building corals have a symbiotic relationship with photosynthetic algae called zooxanthellae, which live in their tissues.
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