We came across this adorable video from Honolulu Civil Beat Inc which perfectly illustrated the life of a coral. While it may be second nature to aquarist why corals are important, and how they reproduce, there are still people who see corals as nothing more than rock.
So what better way to bring coral biology to the masses than quirky cartoon corals and a catchy ukulele beat.
When a mommy coral and a daddy coral love each other very much, they release thousands of tiny bundle of sperm and egg, for one crazy night of coral spawning. The sperm and egg combine to form gametes which turn into larvae, and then coral polyps.
The first few years of a corals life is tough, and it can take up to a year for polyps to grow a few inches. But given the right conditions and a few years to grow coral reefs emerge to form the worlds most productive marine habitat.
Coral reefs are home to a quarter of all marine species and are the foundation of a productive ecosystem, both on land and underwater. Corals buffer coastlines from erosion and provide food and economic livelihoods, for coastal communities.
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