The Secret Life of Corals Online Quiz

Coral reefs are highly sensitive to temperature changes; even small increases can lead to coral bleaching, where corals expel the algae living in their tissues.

Most coral reefs are found in warm, shallow, tropical waters near the equator, where sunlight is abundant and temperatures are stable.

Corals have a symbiotic relationship with zooxanthellae, which are photosynthetic algae that require sunlight to produce energy for the coral.

Human activity, such as pollution, overfishing, and climate change, is a primary driver of coral reef degradation globally.

Symbiosis is a broad term describing any close, long-term interaction between two different biological organisms, which can be mutualistic, commensal, or parasitic.

Zooxanthellae live within coral tissues and perform photosynthesis, providing the coral with glucose, amino acids, and oxygen in exchange for protection and nutrients.

Coral reefs are known as the rainforests of the sea because they support a disproportionately high level of biodiversity despite occupying a small fraction of the ocean floor.