Some of the biggest threats Overfishing and destructive fishing practices, ie, bleaching or using detergents to flush out fish, dynamiting, dragging nets. Poorly managed boating, diving, snorkelling and recreational endeavours Sun tan lotions, particularly the waterproof kind, have been found to smother corals. Some interesting facts about coral reefs Corals are living organisms and the building blocks of the reef. Corals are made up of very small animals called polyps. Coral rock and reefs are formed when polyps make skeletons and join together in large communities.
Coral polyps get their food in two ways.
They use their tentacles like arms to catch small microscopic organisms as they float past. They also get food from small round plants called zooxanthellae, too small to see, that live inside their skin. These small plants use sunlight to make food which they share with the coral polyps. Reef building corals occur only off the east coasts of the world's continents, within 22 degrees of the equator and in clear water with maximum light penetration. They cannot withstand long exposure to water temperatures colder than 68F or warmer than 84F. Corals reproduce asexually.