Korall

Korall is a term often used to refer to the marine invertebrates in the class Anthozoa of phylum Cnidaria. They are characterized by their hard, protective limestone skeletons which are secreted by the coral polyps.

Overview

Korall, or coral, are marine species that exist as small sea anemone-like polyps, typically in colonies of many identical individuals. The group includes the important reef builders that inhabit tropical oceans, which secrete calcium carbonate to form a hard skeleton.

Biology

A coral "head", which appears to be a single organism, is a colony of myriad genetically identical polyps. Each polyp is typically only a few millimeters in diameter. Over many generations, the colony secretes a skeleton that is characteristic of the species. Individual heads grow by asexual reproduction of polyps.

Habitat

Corals are found all over the world's oceans, from the Arctic Ocean to the Southern Ocean. However, the greatest diversity of coral species is found in the warm waters of the Coral Triangle in the western Pacific Ocean.

Threats

Corals face numerous threats, including climate change, ocean acidification, overfishing, and destructive fishing practices. These threats have led to significant declines in coral populations worldwide.

Conservation

Efforts to conserve corals include establishing Marine Protected Areas, promoting sustainable fishing practices, and researching ways to increase coral resilience to climate change.

See also

• Coral reef
• Coral bleaching
• Coral Triangle
• Marine conservation

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