Coral reefs

Coral reefs

Coral reefs are structures formed from the calcium carbonate secretions of corals. They are colonies of tiny animals in marine areas containing few nutrients.

Industry: Natural environment

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Coral reefs

Colloblast

Natural environment; Coral reefs

A cell that discharges a sticky filament upon contact with a prey organism. Colloblasts are found in the tentacles of ctenophores (comb jellies). As the tentacles are dragged through the water, the ...

Lacuna

Natural environment; Coral reefs

A cavity ("little lake") in a matrix-like substance. For example, cartilage cells (chondrocytes) are located in lacunae in the cartilagenous matrix; bone cells (osteocytes) are located in lacunae in ...

Gorgonin

Natural environment; Coral reefs

A fibrous protein in the mesoglea which provides skeletal support for sea fans and other members of the Order Gorgonacea.

Algal ridge

Natural environment; Coral reefs

A low ridge at the seaward margin of a reef flat, largely composed of skeletons of calcareous algae. A synonym of Lithothamnion ridge.

Active site

Natural environment; Coral reefs

A specific region of an enzyme where a substrate binds and catalysis takes place.

Amniote

Natural environment; Coral reefs

A vertebrate whose embryo is surrounded by a fluid-filled sac, the amnion; characteristic of reptiles, birds, and mammals.

Barotrauma

Natural environment; Coral reefs

An injury that results from rapid or extreme changes in pressure. Scuba divers may experience ear barotrauma, a condition of discomfort in the ear caused by pressure differences between the inside ...