Branch coral facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Branch coral |
|
|---|---|
 |
|
| Conservation status | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Synonyms | |
|
List
|
The branch coral (Acropora florida) is a type of coral that looks like a tree with many branches. You can find it in warm, shallow waters across the Indian Ocean and the Pacific Ocean, including places like Australia, Southeast Asia, and Japan. It often lives on coral reefs, from the very top of the reef down to about 30 meters deep.
What Does Branch Coral Look Like?
Branch coral forms large groups called colonies. These colonies have thick branches that grow upwards, and sometimes sideways, from a base that spreads out or covers a surface. They also have smaller side branches and tiny parts that look like knobs.
The coral's surface is covered in small cups called corallites, which are spread out evenly. The color of this coral can be different shades, often pinkish-brown or various shades of green.
How Does Branch Coral Live and Eat?
Branch coral is a special type of coral because it has tiny living things called zooxanthellae inside its soft body. These zooxanthellae are a kind of dinoflagellate (a tiny plant-like organism). They live in a helpful partnership, known as symbiosis, with the coral.
These tiny organisms use photosynthesis (like plants do) to make food from sunlight. They share this food, which includes organic carbon and nitrogen, with the coral. This can provide up to 90% of the coral's energy for growing and staying alive! The coral gets the rest of its food by catching tiny floating organisms called plankton with its tentacles.
Is Branch Coral in Danger?
Branch coral is a common species, and scientists haven't found any specific threats just for this type of coral. However, all corals face big dangers because of climate change.
The main threats to coral reefs include:
- More damage from extreme weather events like strong storms.
- Rising sea water temperatures, which can cause corals to get sick and turn white (this is called coral bleaching).
- Ocean acidification, which means the ocean is becoming more acidic. This makes it harder for corals to build their hard skeletons.
Because of these general threats to corals, the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) has listed the branch coral as "near threatened". This means it could become endangered in the future if things don't change. All corals are also protected by being listed on CITES Appendix II, which helps control their trade around the world.
