Corals
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Corals live on their own, but are associated with limestone communities, or reefs that they construct. Corals are also known as polyps. Corals are tiny soft budded organisms and are related to the jelly fish. Their base is hard, and have a protective limestone skeleton which forms the structure of reefs. Reefs are made when a Coral attaches itself to a rock on the sea floor, then divides into thousands of clones. The calicles then connect to one another creating a colony that acts as a single organism. Corals live in tropical waters around the world and close to the surface so the sun rays can reach its algae. They have venomous tentacles they stick out to grab plankton and small fish.
Corals can reproduce sexually and asexually. During asexual reproduction new Corals bud off from parent Corals to expand or begin colonies. This process occurs throughout the organisms life. During sexual reproduction Corals are broadcast spawners and produce male or female gametes that are release into the water column in large numbers. This allows them to distribute their offspring to a larger area.
Corals can reproduce sexually and asexually. During asexual reproduction new Corals bud off from parent Corals to expand or begin colonies. This process occurs throughout the organisms life. During sexual reproduction Corals are broadcast spawners and produce male or female gametes that are release into the water column in large numbers. This allows them to distribute their offspring to a larger area.