Reef building or Hermatypic
corals have a special relationship with tiny plant-like organisms called zooxanthellae.
The zooxanthellae live inside the tissues of the coral and share mutual benefits.
Benefits of Zooxanthellae to coral
Benefits of coral to zooxanthellae
removes coral waste
provides nutrients to the coral
accelerates coral skeleton growth
provides safe place to live
lets sunlight through to zooxanthellae
provides abundant nutrients from waste
Thus, corals are producers
because the zooxanthellae provide nutrients via photosynthesis to the corals. As a result,
many corals live entirely off of sunlight.
removes coral waste