Author Topic: What are coral reefs? Are they plants or animals? (Read 1178 times)

Arquilecte · « **on:** October 18, 2007, 11:15:18 PM »

A coral reef is a living system comprising of a symbiosis between the animal (polyp) and plant (zooxanthellae). Many polyps aggregate forming colonies that secrete calcium carbonate, creating a collective limestone "skeleton". Successive generations of polyps build on top of previous generations "skeletons" leading to reef formation. Through symbiosis with zooxanthellae, reef-building (hermatypic) corals are the basis of life in reef communities. (www.coralcay.org)

And coral reef start from building of hard coral. They grow very slow and easily broken.
Acropora coral is the most abundance hard coral in Malaysia. They grow bout 5 to 20 cm per year. Acropora coral outgrow and become dominant more readily than slow growing coral like Porites massive coral that gow bout 1-2 cm per year.

This is Acropora branching coral. Nice to see, not nice to hold. Once broken you're not forgiven.

This is an Xray of Porites coral in Malaysia. They grow less than 1 cm per year. Can you imagine how long does it take for a 1 foot big coral to grow??

They are just like our bones, calcium carbonate.

Bobo® · « **Reply #1 on:** October 18, 2007, 11:43:37 PM »

Quote from: Arquilecte on October 18, 2007, 11:15:18 PM

This is an Xray of Porites coral in Malaysia. They grow less than 1 cm per year. Can you imagine how long does it take for a 1 foot big coral to grow??

errr can you tell this to clement lee and tengku zainal adlin. because they said only 0.1% from 372.2 square metres damage during the barge hit Sipadan on May 2006.

Adzri · « **Reply #2 on:** October 19, 2007, 03:17:02 AM »

Nice facts and thanks for sharing.

How about coral spawning? when normally it will happen?? Arcuilecte if you dont mind.

SuperKingKong® · « **Reply #3 on:** October 19, 2007, 06:04:36 AM »

hey Arquilecte ... thanks for the info

Scorpenesub · « **Reply #4 on:** October 19, 2007, 08:03:45 AM »

Quote from: Bobo Raya Mode on October 18, 2007, 11:43:37 PM

Quote from: Arquilecte on October 18, 2007, 11:15:18 PM
This is an Xray of Porites coral in Malaysia. They grow less than 1 cm per year. Can you imagine how long does it take for a 1 foot big coral to grow??

errr can you tell this to clement lee and tengku zainal adlin. because they said only 0.1% from 372.2 square metres damage during the barge hit Sipadan on May 2006.

Hey bobo, what has the damage by the barge got to do with Clement Lee or Tengku Zainal Adlin?

As far as I know, if there is any blame, it would go straight to the Chief Executive of the state because apparently even the then Minister of Tourism Datuk Chong Kah Kiat was not informed of changes to a state cabinet-approved contract to build what was first, a comfortable but simple wooden diver's rest area costing under RM1 million that was upgraded by the stroke of a BIG pen (without going though cabinet) to a concrete building costing RM4 million that houses a restaurant and community area for divers and visitors.

Even Sabah Parks was kept in the dark until the contract was awarded and signed by the CM. So where does Tengku Adlin (Sabah Tourism Board) or Clement Lee (Sabah Tourism Association) come in? If you are thinking Clement Lee in relations to his company, they are not even involved in the project.

Anyway, the story is that a well intentioned project to boost tourism was unfortunately interrupted by nature. Its a long story that I can explain more when we meet up next.

So that information on coral growth should rightfully go to the State Chief Executive....

SuperKingKong® · « **Reply #5 on:** October 19, 2007, 09:02:46 AM »

it was the public statement that clement made.. that caused lots of unhappiness among divers....

something like .."only 0.1% from 372.2 square metres damage during the barge hit Sipadan... not a big matter"...

chill out, guys...

Nazir Amin · « **Reply #6 on:** October 19, 2007, 09:58:45 AM »

thanks for the info..

SeaSir · « **Reply #7 on:** October 19, 2007, 10:46:15 AM »

Quote from: scorpenesub on October 19, 2007, 08:03:45 AM

Quote from: Bobo Raya Mode on October 18, 2007, 11:43:37 PM
Quote from: Arquilecte on October 18, 2007, 11:15:18 PM
This is an Xray of Porites coral in Malaysia. They grow less than 1 cm per year. Can you imagine how long does it take for a 1 foot big coral to grow??

errr can you tell this to clement lee and tengku zainal adlin. because they said only 0.1% from 372.2 square metres damage during the barge hit Sipadan on May 2006.

Hey bobo, what has the damage by the barge got to do with Clement Lee or Tengku Zainal Adlin?

As far as I know, if there is any blame, it would go straight to the Chief Executive of the state because apparently even the then Minister of Tourism Datuk Chong Kah Kiat was not informed of changes to a state cabinet-approved contract to build what was first, a comfortable but simple wooden diver's rest area costing under RM1 million that was upgraded by the stroke of a BIG pen (without going though cabinet) to a concrete building costing RM4 million that houses a restaurant and community area for divers and visitors.

Even Sabah Parks was kept in the dark until the contract was awarded and signed by the CM. So where does Tengku Adlin (Sabah Tourism Board) or Clement Lee (Sabah Tourism Association) come in? If you are thinking Clement Lee in relations to his company, they are not even involved in the project.

Anyway, the story is that a well intentioned project to boost tourism was unfortunately interrupted by nature. Its a long story that I can explain more when we meet up next.

So that information on coral growth should rightfully go to the State Chief Executive....

I agree with.....I oso Know Tengku Zainal Adlin Personaly, we all knows who behind this matter

I think, if Im rightlah dont blame any body with personal mater or mention the name in This Forum. That better and who we are......just bilis not jerung

SeaSir · « **Reply #8 on:** October 19, 2007, 10:53:49 AM »

Quote from: Arquilecte on October 18, 2007, 11:15:18 PM

A coral reef is a living system comprising of a symbiosis between the animal (polyp) and plant (zooxanthellae). Many polyps aggregate forming colonies that secrete calcium carbonate, creating a collective limestone "skeleton". Successive generations of polyps build on top of previous generations "skeletons" leading to reef formation. Through symbiosis with zooxanthellae, reef-building (hermatypic) corals are the basis of life in reef communities. (www.coralcay.org)

And coral reef start from building of hard coral. They grow very slow and easily broken.
Acropora coral is the most abundance hard coral in Malaysia. They grow bout 5 to 20 cm per year. Acropora coral outgrow and become dominant more readily than slow growing coral like Porites massive coral that gow bout 1-2 cm per year.

This is Acropora branching coral. Nice to see, not nice to hold. Once broken you're not forgiven.

This is an Xray of Porites coral in Malaysia. They grow less than 1 cm per year. Can you imagine how long does it take for a 1 foot big coral to grow??

They are just like our bones, calcium carbonate.

1 cm per year!!!! ...if i broke that coral....so sad, must carefull after this

Nice info, Thanks for Sharing

John F SeaDemon · « **Reply #9 on:** October 19, 2007, 12:30:17 PM »

Quote from: SuperKingKong® on October 19, 2007, 09:02:46 AM

it was the public statement that clement made.. that caused lots of unhappiness among divers....

something like .."only 0.1% from 372.2 square metres damage during the barge hit Sipadan" .. not a big matter...

chill out, guys...

Oh, it was a big matter to me. It still is.

That really was a stupid statement.

However, coming back to topic, thank you for the info on corals and coral growth. Very educational and a definite eye-opener. let us have more as education is our only hope against indifference.

SuperKingKong® · « **Reply #10 on:** October 19, 2007, 02:47:05 PM »

Quote from: Yuri Yufokov on October 19, 2007, 12:30:17 PM

Quote from: SuperKingKong® on October 19, 2007, 09:02:46 AM
it was the public statement that clement made.. that caused lots of unhappiness among divers....

something like .."only 0.1% from 372.2 square metres damage during the barge hit Sipadan" .. not a big matter...

chill out, guys...

Oh, it was a big matter to me. It still is.

That really was a stupid statement.

However, coming back to topic, thank you for the info on corals and coral growth. Very educational and a definite eye-opener. let us have more as education is our only hope against indifference.

hahaa.. i put the quote wrongly... it has been corrected

anyway, it was just a lame remark from a businessman

zani · « **Reply #11 on:** October 20, 2007, 12:47:46 PM »

Quote from: adik on October 19, 2007, 03:17:02 AM

Nice facts and thanks for sharing.

How about coral spawning? when normally it will happen?? Arcuilecte if you dont mind.

Thanks Arcuilecte, great topic here...... :icon_thumleft:ya! how about spawning???

wolfus · « **Reply #12 on:** October 20, 2007, 01:14:14 PM »

arquilecte...thanks for sharing the good info with us...really informative and educational...

Bobo® · « **Reply #13 on:** October 20, 2007, 02:09:47 PM »

Quote from: scorpenesub on October 19, 2007, 08:03:45 AM

Quote from: Bobo Raya Mode on October 18, 2007, 11:43:37 PM
Quote from: Arquilecte on October 18, 2007, 11:15:18 PM
This is an Xray of Porites coral in Malaysia. They grow less than 1 cm per year. Can you imagine how long does it take for a 1 foot big coral to grow??

errr can you tell this to clement lee and tengku zainal adlin. because they said only 0.1% from 372.2 square metres damage during the barge hit Sipadan on May 2006.

Hey bobo, what has the damage by the barge got to do with Clement Lee or Tengku Zainal Adlin?

As far as I know, if there is any blame, it would go straight to the Chief Executive of the state because apparently even the then Minister of Tourism Datuk Chong Kah Kiat was not informed of changes to a state cabinet-approved contract to build what was first, a comfortable but simple wooden diver's rest area costing under RM1 million that was upgraded by the stroke of a BIG pen (without going though cabinet) to a concrete building costing RM4 million that houses a restaurant and community area for divers and visitors.

Even Sabah Parks was kept in the dark until the contract was awarded and signed by the CM. So where does Tengku Adlin (Sabah Tourism Board) or Clement Lee (Sabah Tourism Association) come in? If you are thinking Clement Lee in relations to his company, they are not even involved in the project.

Anyway, the story is that a well intentioned project to boost tourism was unfortunately interrupted by nature. Its a long story that I can explain more when we meet up next.

So that information on coral growth should rightfully go to the State Chief Executive....

Johnny did i mention they have something to do with it (or may be who knows)? Like Yuri said, its their statement. They shuld protect not to agree.

Anyway back to the topic, like adik said, care to furnish us the spawning time?

Is it the same at any waters or different time..??

thanks Arquilecte

Arquilecte · « **Reply #14 on:** October 22, 2007, 06:05:26 PM »

Well, bout the Sipadan case, too shame to say that I didn't take a visit to the site when I went there middle of this year. Can't comment on it coz I din see the place before and after. Hopefully it's slowly to recover now.

Info bout coral spawning is very limited. A dive spot somewhere in US did give out the timetable of their coral spawning. But we don't have any record over here. In southern Taiwan, the mass spawning of scleractinians occurs in lunar mid-March. I saw coral spawning once in Redang during mid-May. We try to look at it using a microscope in the marine park. Sad to say, we can't see it coz the microscope is not in good condition anymore. I once read on something that mention that coral spawning usually happen during full-moon.

Previous studies of scleractinians suggest that several environmental factors may play an important role in determining the timing of reproduction and spawning. For the control of spawning, the long-term (control of the maturation of gonads) control may be temperature, day length and/or rate of temperature change (either increasing or decreasing). The shortterm (getting ready to spawn) control is usually lunar. The final cue (release of gametes) is usually the time of sunset. There are many variations on these controls, probably because synchrony is usually linked to whatever environmental cues are most effective within a given region. Spawning occurs in October/November on the Great Barrier Reef, in March in western Australia, in June/July in Japan.Most broadcast spawning scleractinian corals synchronously release gametes during a brief annual spawning period. The exact cues triggering this annual phenomenon remain unclear. (Quote from 'Hormones and reproduction in scleractinian corals', Wen-Hung Twan, Jiang-Shiou Hwang, Yan-Horn Lee, Hua-Fang Wu, Ying-Hsiu Tung, Ching-Fong Chang)

Maybe we should start to record it on our own. Since there are so many divers out there. Just try to look for it when you go diving. It's a nice scenery to see the coral spawning. Just like snow underwater. And don't mistaken it with the 'marine snow'.

Adzri · « **Reply #15 on:** October 24, 2007, 01:06:35 AM »

Thanks for the explanation. I had only one oppotunity to see them spawning, It was at Komodo. early in the morning, so its not so obvious due to sunlight exist.

I wud luv to see it again, So if anybody got any indication on the when it can best seen, I would be grateful to follow you guys.

DecLim · « **Reply #16 on:** October 24, 2007, 02:48:24 PM »

Quote from: Bobo Working Mode on October 18, 2007, 11:43:37 PM

Quote from: Arquilecte on October 18, 2007, 11:15:18 PM
This is an Xray of Porites coral in Malaysia. They grow less than 1 cm per year. Can you imagine how long does it take for a 1 foot big coral to grow??

errr can you tell this to clement lee and tengku zainal adlin. because they said only 0.1% from 372.2 square metres damage during the barge hit Sipadan on May 2006.

10s for sharing all these info, I'll start spread this to all my frens, not only diver should know this, we should educate more ppl, especially those say 0.1% was not a bid deal...

SuperKingKong® · « **Reply #17 on:** November 02, 2007, 11:42:05 AM »

wah.. cool... can we really see the spawning? ... hmm... just hoping to see once

MACHA · « **Reply #18 on:** November 02, 2007, 11:55:08 AM »

Quote from: adik on October 24, 2007, 01:06:35 AM

Thanks for the explanation. I had only one oppotunity to see them spawning, It was at Komodo. early in the morning, so its not so obvious due to sunlight exist.

I wud luv to see it again, So if anybody got any indication on the when it can best seen, I would be grateful to follow you guys.

Yup...I remember that 1 la...we were drifting & if im not mistaken it was the barrel sponge....orgasm...mmm

dey, will check back in video la

Adzri · « **Reply #19 on:** November 02, 2007, 12:21:51 PM »

Quote from: MACHA on November 02, 2007, 11:55:08 AM

Quote from: adik on October 24, 2007, 01:06:35 AM
Thanks for the explanation. I had only one oppotunity to see them spawning, It was at Komodo. early in the morning, so its not so obvious due to sunlight exist.

I wud luv to see it again, So if anybody got any indication on the when it can best seen, I would be grateful to follow you guys.

Yup...I remember that 1 la...we were drifting & if im not mistaken it was the barrel sponge....orgasm...mmm
dey, will check back in video la

Tatawa kecil that was. It was obvious early in the morning, cant imagine if its at nite with lights. It was wonderful experience.

My stupid Question :-Any chance of broken pieces of corals helping the marine ecosystem???

IkanBilis · « **Reply #20 on:** November 02, 2007, 11:49:49 PM »

I'm an idiot when it comes to the type and name of various corals. I know fan corals, or those valuable red and black corals. I've seen many types of corals, but they are either stag-horns, table, or "brain" corals.

Arquilecte, or anyone else with nice pics of local corals, and some good info describing the type of corals in the pic, would you be so nice as to post those on the "Gallery". It would be good education for members, so the next time they want to do a cross reference, they can look up the thumbnails on the gallery, or search for the particular name of the coral.

Teaching and educating is a noble thing to do, and my thanks for those who helped.

Arquilecte · « **Reply #21 on:** November 05, 2007, 06:08:36 PM »

Macha,
Broken coral might grow also. But the survivor rate is low. Some places, they stick the tip of the branching coral to hard substrate like cement, so that it can continue to grow or to recover the some damage places like Phuket. If u accidently broken some coral, then you can try to put it at a stable place, crossing your fingers hoping it continue to grow.

Any chance of broken pieces of corals helping the marine ecosystem??? Well... if you say marine ecosystem, that's a very wide coverage. Broken pieces usually will be covered with algae. This is the food source of some fishes. Fish don't eat bread. But if we don't have enought herbivour fishes around, the the algae will spread and it might cover up the live coral too. Broken coral may also be the source of the coral larvae to settle down and grow as new coral.

Ikan bilis,
There's a 3 volumn book of hard corals from JEN Veron, only describing the species of hard coral. Would like to post up more soon.

jgshuwei · « **Reply #22 on:** November 05, 2007, 08:53:36 PM »

For me, as a layman I will classified corals into 2 groups, ie hard & soft. Basically hard corals will stay in shallow water where the symbiosis "plants" (zooxanthellae) inside their body will produce food for corals (some form of sugar) via photosynthesis and absorb the waste (NH3 & PO4) as their nutrient under sunlight.

Soft corals can be herbivore or carnivore depands on the food souce ie zooplankton (animal) or phytoplankton (plant). Some of the soft carals are able to produce food via photosynthesis as well. Since most of them don't need suunlight, they growth in deeper water.