A flexible, horny substance called gorgonin forms this coral's central skeleton, which supports all branches of the colony. Living tissues form a layer over the skeleton's entire surface. More than a million microscopic algae called zooxanthellae are found in a square centimeter of coral tissue. The algae make food for the coral through the process of photosynthesis. The algae also generate the coral's color.
Sea fans appear in shades of red, yellow, or orange.
There are about 500 species of Gorgonia. The species shown here is found in the shallow waters of all oceans, but is especially abundant along the Atlantic coasts of Florida, Bermuda, and the West Indies. Dr. Nancy Targett Dr. Targett's research integrates chemistry and biology, specifically focusing on better understanding chemistry's role in complex relationships among reef dwellers. During field work in the Caribbean a few years ago, she noticed a large proliferation of brown algae. Upon analyzing the algae, Dr. Targett found that many of the plants contain large amounts of a class of chemicals called phlorotannins.