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 ID# : 59896
 Visits: 1208
 Added: 11-Jun-2004
 Updated: 11-Jun-2004
 URL: http://www.oceansatlas.org/id/59896
 Editors
 John Everett
 Lamarr Trott
 
 
 
 
How Do Stony Corals Grow? Maintained by NOAA  
        
How Do Stony Corals Grow?
 
Most stony corals have very small polyps, averaging 1 to 3 millimeters in diameter, but entire colonies can grow very large and weigh several tons. As they grow, these reefs provide structural habitats for hundreds to thousands of different vertebrate and invertebrate species. The skeletons of stony corals are secreted by the lower portion of the polyp. This process produces a cup, or calyx, in which the polyp sits. The walls surrounding the cup are called the theca, and the floor is called the basal plate. Periodically, a polyp will lift off its base and secrete a new basal plate above the old one, creating a small chamber in the skeleton. While the colony is alive, CaCO3 is deposited, adding partitions and elevating the coral. Coral species number in the thousands, and stony corals take on several characteristic forms. Reefs form when polyps secrete skeletons of calcium carbonate
 
 
 
 
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Documents
Bi-Annual report of the Global Coral Reef Monitoring Network Status of Coral Reefs of the World: 2000 Bi-Annual report of the Global Coral Reef Monitoring Network 
International Planning and Collaboration Workshop for the Gulf of Mexico and the North Atlantic Ocean Galway, Ireland, January 16-17, 2003 Summary: Deep-Sea Corals Workshop; Ireland 2003 International Planning and Collaboration Workshop for the Gulf of Mexico and th...  
impact of climatic change on coral reefs, mangroves, and tropical seagrass ecosystems The impact of climatic change on coral reefs, mangroves, and tropical...In 'Climate impact of climatic change on coral reefs, mangroves, and tropical seagrass ecos...  
Wave-breaking hydrodynamics within coral reef systems  Wave-breaking hydrodynamics within coral reef systems and the effect ...019, 1999.  Wave-breaking hydrodynamics within coral reef systems  
Books
Book aimed at general resource management of tropical marine ecosystems, a cooperative effort between ICRI, AIMS, GCRMN, IUCN CORDIO, and the WWF Coral Reefs, Mangroves and Seagrasses: A Sourcebook for Managers Book aimed at general resource management of tropical marine ecosystems, a coop...  
The photographs of Norbert Wu Splendors of the Seas. The photographs of Norbert Wu The photographs of Norbert Wu 
Status of Coral reefs of the World : 2000 Status of Coral reefs of the World : 2000 Status of Coral reefs of the World : 2000 
Status of Coral Reefs of the World: 2000 Status of Coral Reefs of the World: 2000 Status of Coral Reefs of the World: 2000 
Winner of the NSW Premier's Prize for Australian History. 2002-2003 The Great Barrier Reef. History, Science, Heritage. Winner of the NSW Premier's Prize for Australian History. 2002-2003 
World Atlas of Coral Reefs World Atlas of Coral Reefs World Atlas of Coral Reefs 
Multimedia
ReefBase GIS is an online Geographic Information System, which was developed to display coral reef related data and information on interactive maps in your web browser ReefBase GIS ReefBase GIS is an online Geographic Information System, which was developed to...  
Projects
map based analysis of threats to coral reefs Reefs at Risk Caribbean map based analysis of threats to coral reefs 
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