History of Coral Reefs

Some of today’s coral reefs have been edified during 50 million years but most coral reefs are only 5 to 10 000 years old.

Coral reefs contain an unusual biodiversity, even though they are located in waters that are low of nutrient. The explanation of this is the cycle of nutrient the zooxanthellae (coral organism) and other organisms in the reef. The nutrients that are can be recycled.

Another organism that is necessary for a coral reef is the cyan bacteria.
This is a bacteria that supply the coral reef with soluble nitrates. These bacteria prefer an environment that is low of nutrients. The coral reef then absorbs the nitrogen and also phosphorus from the water. The coral organisms nourish from zooplankton which, by water movement, are carried trough the polyps of the organism