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 ID# : 59896
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 Added: 11-Jun-2004
 Updated: 11-Jun-2004
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 Lamarr Trott
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How Do Stony Corals Grow? Maintained by NOAA  
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How Do Stony Corals Grow?
 
Most stony corals have very small polyps, averaging 1 to 3 millimeters in diameter, but entire colonies can grow very large and weigh several tons. As they grow, these reefs provide structural habitats for hundreds to thousands of different vertebrate and invertebrate species. The skeletons of stony corals are secreted by the lower portion of the polyp. This process produces a cup, or calyx, in which the polyp sits. The walls surrounding the cup are called the theca, and the floor is called the basal plate. Periodically, a polyp will lift off its base and secrete a new basal plate above the old one, creating a small chamber in the skeleton. While the colony is alive, CaCO3 is deposited, adding partitions and elevating the coral. Coral species number in the thousands, and stony corals take on several characteristic forms. Reefs form when polyps secrete skeletons of calcium carbonate
 
 
 
 
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Global Environment Facility (GEF) Coral Coral Reef Targeted Research Global Environment Facility (GEF) Coral 
NOS/NOAA and Coral Reefs Coral Reefs NOS/NOAA and Coral Reefs 
Information and links to coral reef topics Coral Reefs Information and links to coral reef topics 
WCMC site Corals in Danger WCMC site 
CReefs (www.creefs.org) is the coral reef component of the Census of Marine Life (www.coml.org). CReefs CReefs (www.creefs.org) is the coral reef component of the Census of Marine Lif...  
The partnership between BHP Billiton, the Great Barrier Reef Foundation, the Census of Marine Life and the Australian Institute of Marine Science (AIMS) will allow Australian reef sites to be included in the CReefs global research initiative. CReefs - the Australian Node The partnership between BHP Billiton, the Great Barrier Reef Foundation, the Ce...  
Essential fish habitat is an important component of building and maintaining sustainable fisheries Essential Fish Habitat Essential fish habitat is an important component of building and maintaining su...  
US law calls for direct action to stop or reverse the continued loss of fish habitats Essential Fish Habitat - US NOAA/NMFS US law calls for direct action to stop or reverse the continued loss of fish ha...  
The collaboration of national and local groups to protect and study estuaries Estuary-Net Project The collaboration of national and local groups to protect and study estuaries...  
a dedicated sub website of APFIC dedicated to the Tsunami FAO Asia Pacific Fisheries Commission information on the Tsunami a dedicated sub website of APFIC dedicated to the Tsunami 
Society to protect threatened estuaries, shores and coastal waters of Nelson Haven & Tasman Bay Friends of Nelson Haven & Tasman Bay Inc. Society to protect threatened estuaries, shores and coastal waters of Nelson Ha...  
National Geographic feature Great Barrier Reef National Geographic feature 
Website of the GBRMPA, the principal adviser to the Commonwealth Government on the care and development of the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority (GBRMPA) Website of the GBRMPA, the principal adviser to the Commonwealth Government on ...  
The Integrated Monitoring and Observing System (IMOS) is a fully-integrated Australian system, observing at ocean-basin and regional scales, and covering physical, chemical and biological variables. Integrated Monitoring and Observing System (IMOS) The Integrated Monitoring and Observing System (IMOS) is a fully-integrated Aus...  
A strategic alliance for the management needs of the world's coral reefs International Coral Reef Action Network (ICRAN) A strategic alliance for the management needs of the world's coral reefs...  
communications and information project of ICRAN International Coral Reef Information Network (ICRIN) communications and information project of ICRAN 
an informal network of governments and international agencies working with scientific and conservation institutions International Coral Reef Initiative (ICRI) an informal network of governments and international agencies working with scie...  
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