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fandomhigh2012-01-19 02:21 pm
takesaftermom.livejournal.com) wrote in fandomhigh2012-01-19 02:21 pm
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Life of the Sea, Thursday, Period 2
Summer had sent out a handwaved e-mail, letting her students know they were meeting in the Danger Shop today. Upon entering, they'd find the room set up like a laboratory, with tanks of various sizes set up throughout the room.
"Today's topic of discussion, if you couldn't tell from the tanks, is on coral reefs," Summer explained. "Reefs are known as the rainforests of the oceans because they are a component of a larger ecosystem, a collection of biological communities. Corals are actually tiny animals that are stationary; they stay fixed in one place," she added.
"All reef-dwelling corals have a symbiotic relationship with algae called zooxanthellae. The plant-like algae live inside the coral polyps and perform photosynthesis, producing food which is shared with the coral. In exchange the coral provides the algae with protection and access to light, which is necessary for photosynthesis," Summer continued, moving over to one of larger tanks. It was filled with brightly colored coral and various types and sizes of fish, swimming in and out of the coral.
"Coral reefs provide habitats for a large variety of organisms. These organisms rely on corals as a source of food and shelter. Besides the corals themselves and their symbiotic algae, other creatures that call coral reefs home include various sponges; molluscs such as sea slugs, nudibranchs, oysters, and clams; crustaceans like crabs and shrimp; many kinds of sea worms; echinoderms like star fish and sea urchins; other cnidarians such as jellyfish and sea anemones; various types of fungi; sea turtles; and many species of fish," she added, watching a group of clown fish chase each other through the coral.
Summer grinned and turned back to her students. "Feel free to study the tanks and if you have any questions, don't hesitate to ask."
[OCDcoming up]
"Today's topic of discussion, if you couldn't tell from the tanks, is on coral reefs," Summer explained. "Reefs are known as the rainforests of the oceans because they are a component of a larger ecosystem, a collection of biological communities. Corals are actually tiny animals that are stationary; they stay fixed in one place," she added.
"All reef-dwelling corals have a symbiotic relationship with algae called zooxanthellae. The plant-like algae live inside the coral polyps and perform photosynthesis, producing food which is shared with the coral. In exchange the coral provides the algae with protection and access to light, which is necessary for photosynthesis," Summer continued, moving over to one of larger tanks. It was filled with brightly colored coral and various types and sizes of fish, swimming in and out of the coral.
"Coral reefs provide habitats for a large variety of organisms. These organisms rely on corals as a source of food and shelter. Besides the corals themselves and their symbiotic algae, other creatures that call coral reefs home include various sponges; molluscs such as sea slugs, nudibranchs, oysters, and clams; crustaceans like crabs and shrimp; many kinds of sea worms; echinoderms like star fish and sea urchins; other cnidarians such as jellyfish and sea anemones; various types of fungi; sea turtles; and many species of fish," she added, watching a group of clown fish chase each other through the coral.
Summer grinned and turned back to her students. "Feel free to study the tanks and if you have any questions, don't hesitate to ask."
[OCD
Sign In
Re: Sign In
Listen to the Lecture
The Tanks
moddedsea life that call it home.Re: The Tanks
Talk to Summer
OOC