als called zooplankton, which the polyp stuns with stinging cells located on its tentacles. When a polyp is feeding or defending its territory, it stretches itself out of its “cup” and spreads its tentacles like the branches of a tree. At rest, it pulls its tentacles into the cup and closes its mouth tightly (Griggs, 1998). Corals were once incorrectly classified as plants. They are animals that collect their own food instead of producing it themselves like most plants do (Griggs, 1998). According to Cousteau, the coral polyps give these brown in color algae a safe haven from predators. The algae in return, is believed to provide the polyps with a natural sunscreen and additional oxygen. The algae also provides carbon compounds to the coral, which are used to supplement its zooplankton diet. Coral reefs, for the most part require clear water, bright light, oceanic salts, and water temperatures that average approximately 70 degrees. Most polyps, rest during the day, while the algae produce energy. The polyps become active at night to gather food. Corals usually reproduce during the night and at certain times of the year. They generally spawn in response to lunar cycles. The most well known example of spawning in response to lunar cycles are the mass spawning events in the Pacific and Caribbean stony corals. During this stage, the corals produce a milky cloud of eggs and sperm. If this took place during the day, the eggs and sperm would be quickly eaten by fish and other predators. After the eggs are fertilized and they hatch into larvae, they drift with the current for several days to several weeks before settling on a hard surface. As soon as they land they begin to construct skeletons to attach themselves to the rock. At this time the larvae change from shapeless masses to polyps with tentacles and mouths. The polyp will remain in one place its entire life, growing new polyps by cloning itself. This process is called “...
