RAWA+corals

Here`s some interesting follow up information regarding coral reefs, the life cycle of coral, zooxanthellae, and coral bleaching.

//Coral reef identification key for Singapore, many relevant to Malaysia also://

Hard Corals of Singapore Identification Guide

//The life cycle of corals:

(Read the article on the **Coconut Island Sex Show** that accompanied this image: [] )//

** Life Cycle of a Coral - an introduction ** Coral, like other living things, has a life cycle. Although there are 40 species of corals, most follow the same life cycle of reproduction, growth, and death. Coral reproduces in two different ways. The first way is called sexual reproduction. The female adult coral reproduces fertilizing eggs. The eggs can be fertilized inside the body of the coral and then released, or the eggs can be released and then fertilized. The release of the eggs and sperm is call ** spawning **. Spawning occurs once a year, and in Hawaii the event can be seen one to four days after the rise of the new moon either in June of July. The eggs then plant themselves onto dead or live coral and begin to grow to adulthood. The second way coral reproduces is called asexual reproduction. This process is also called ** budding **. Budding occurs when a polyp from an adult coral grows big enough to survive on its own and separates from the older coral. At this point, the polyp is considered coral, an individual part of the coral reef. As a colonial coral produces more polyps, the lower members die and new layers are built up on the old skeletons, forming coral reefs. Text taken from: []

A more in depth explanation of the life cycle of corals can be found here

A great poster image of the life cycle of corals

//Coral reef examples of symbiosis://

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//Zooxanthellae://

Introduction to zooxanthellae

More scientific information on zooxanthellae

//Coral bleaching://

Mechanisms of coral reef bleaching

Will coral reefs disappear? (a number of interesting articles here)

//Research into the diversity of zooxanthellae, especially the heat-resistant strains, and hopes of saving coral reefs://

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