Language:  GlossaryImagesHelp
 
Home: ABOUT: Coasts and Coral Reefs: How Do Stony Corals Grow?
Advanced Search | an expanded view of Topics and Knowledge in the Atlas
 Login for Members
 

 Username
 
 Password
 

 

Forgotten your Password?

 

Not a Member? Join Now

 Getting started
 
Navigate the Atlas:
 Related Knowledge (581)
 Topic Overview
 ID# : 59896
 Visits: 10758
 Added: 11-Jun-2004
 Updated: 18-Jun-2013
  E-Mail Topic link
 Editors
 Daniel Seidman
 John Everett
 Lamarr Trott
 Become a joint editor
 
 
 
 
How Do Stony Corals Grow? Maintained by NOAA  
Text-only     Printer-friendly version             
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
 
 
 
 
All  (581) News   (162) Events   (8) Websites   (72) Documents   (103) Books   (44) Multimedia   (16) Projects   (3) Contacts   (170) Institutional Contact   (3)
 All
 
Websites
The NOS Data Explorer serves as a portal to obtain NOS spatial data. NOS Data Explorer The NOS Data Explorer serves as a portal to obtain NOS spatial data. 
The largest community-based coral reef monitoring program in Australia. Reef Check Australia The largest community-based coral reef monitoring program in Australia....  
Organization dedicated to the protection of coral reefs and its marine life ReefKeeper International Organization dedicated to the protection of coral reefs and its marine life...  
Map based analysis of threats to coral reefs Reefs at Risk Map based analysis of threats to coral reefs 
A resource of free coral reef video clips for educational use ReefVid A resource of free coral reef video clips for educational use 
A site dedicated to SPC, FAO-UNDP and PIMRIS bibliographies Resources and fisheries bibliographies from the South Pacific A site dedicated to SPC, FAO-UNDP and PIMRIS bibliographies 
Alliance between regional, coastal, and local organizations that focuses on the protection of U.S. estuaries Restore America's Estuaries Alliance between regional, coastal, and local organizations that focuses on the...  
SECORE (COral REproduction) is a non-profit initiative of public aquariums and coral scientists to create an international network of expertise in coral reef conservation. SECORE - coral reproduction SECORE (COral REproduction) is a non-profit initiative of public aquariums and ...  
Data on Severe Tropical Cyclones Anthony and Yasi which struck the North Queensland coast of Australia from 21 January to 4 February 2011. Strict building codes, cyclone preparedness, including mandatory evacuation, and a rapid emergency response resulted in no significant loss of life, although there was structural damage at the centre and widespread damage to vegetation. More data at <a href=http://data.aims.gov.au/> AIMS data centre</a>. Severe Tropical Cyclones Anthony and Yasi 21-Jan-2011 to 4-Feb-2011 Data on Severe Tropical Cyclones Anthony and Yasi which struck the North Queens...  
Designed to help increase effective conservation action in the Pacific Islands, the Inventory of Regional Conservation Activities is a living record of conservation activities of key actors in this region The Pacific Islands Roundtable for nature conservation Designed to help increase effective conservation action in the Pacific Islands,...  
An ICRI site on the Indian Ocean Tsunami impacts on the reefs Tsunami impacts on coral reefs An ICRI site on the Indian Ocean Tsunami impacts on the reefs 
The tsunami taskforce,"Team-Australia" is the response to the Governments commitment to the Republic of the Maldives in the aftermath of the tsunami. Tsunami Taskforce-"Team-Australia"and the Republic of the Maldives The tsunami taskforce,"Team-Australia" is the response to the Governments commi...  
NOAA website on Action Plan for Coral Reef, Mangrove and Seagrass ecosystems Understanding Coral Reef Ecosystems NOAA website on Action Plan for Coral Reef, Mangrove and Seagrass ecosystems...  
UNEP Coral reef unit UNEP Coral reef unit UNEP Coral reef unit 
United Nations system-wide Earthwatch United Nations system-wide Earthwatch; Corals under pressure United Nations system-wide Earthwatch 
UNEP World Conservation Monitoring Centre WCMC on mangroves UNEP World Conservation Monitoring Centre 
  « Previous  1  2  3  4  5  6  7  8  9  10  11  12  13  14  15  Next » 
979 Topics - 5276 Related Knowledge - 11278 Members - 48 Editors
freeMem:135,946,384 totMem:427,032,576 reqNum:141769 openSessions:0 generationTime:2013/06/20 06:17:51