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How Corals Feed: Symbiosis, Nutrition and Survival Under Stress

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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...
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How Corals Feed: Symbiosis, Nutrition and Survival Under Stress

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Image
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...
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Coral Bleaching Explained: Causes, Recovery and Gem Coral Differences

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A white coral colony tells a story about living tissue, energy and environmental stress. Coral bleaching is often shown as a dramatic change from a colourful reef to a pale landscape. For gemology students, the word bleaching can be confusing: a stressed living coral and a chemically treated coral bead describe different processes. This guide introduces the biology before connecting it to gemstone terminology. What happens during coral bleaching? Many shallow-water reef corals live with microscopic photosynthetic partners in their tissues. These partners provide an important source of energy. When their relationship breaks down, the coral may lose symbiotic cells or their pigments. The pale skeleton becomes more visible through the remaining tissue. Bleaching describes this change; it does not automatically mean the animal is already dead. [1] Host–algal symbiosis, Figure 1 in the source chapter. Image: Norma Olguín-López and colleagues (2017) , IntechOpen source , CC BY 3.0 . Reproduc...
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