How Corals Feed: Symbiosis, Nutrition and Survival Under Stress
A coral skeleton records growth, but living tissue supplies the energy that makes growth possible. Corals are animals, yet many reef corals obtain energy through a partnership with photosynthetic microorganisms. They can also feed on external resources. Understanding these energy pathways helps explain why changes in light, food and water conditions can affect coral growth and survival. [1] Two important energy pathways In photosymbiotic corals, algal partners capture light energy and share products of photosynthesis with the host. The animal also obtains food through heterotrophy, including the capture or uptake of organic resources. Their relative contributions differ among species and environments. [1] Symbiosis illustration, Figure 1 from the bleaching overview; used here to explain the nutritional partnership. Image: Norma Olguín-López and colleagues (2017) , IntechOpen source , CC BY 3.0 . Reproduced without scientific alteration. What does trophic plasticity mean? Trophic plasti...