Page 143 - Dive the Seas and More-2

Coral Reef Teacher’s Guide Life on the Coral Reef

CORAL REEF Giant Clam - Like the clownfish and sea anem-
one, the giant clam has a symbiotic relationship
SAMPLE CONNECTIONS with its zooxanthellae. Like the mollusk (giant

triton) and the sea turtle, it has been overhar-
Sun - The sun is vital to the zooxanthellae in vested by humans for its meat and shell. Like
the hard coral and the giant clam for photo- the hard coral, it contains zooxanthellae in the
synthesis. Since hard coral forms the founda- tissue of its mantle. It also eats plankton like
tion of the coral reef, without sunlight coral the hard coral, the soft coral, and the spotted
reefs and all life dependent upon these reefs eagle ray.
could not exist.
Gray Reef Shark - The gray reef shark hunts
Blue Dash Butterflyfish - The butterflyfish for food at night like the polyps of the soft cor-
uses camouflage for protection like the clown al and the hard coral. It can eat the butter-
triggerfish and the lionfish. It can be eaten by flyfish, the clown triggerfish, the damselfish,
the shark and the moray eel. Like the dam- the clownfish, the lionfish, the parrotfish, the
selfish and the lionfish, it hides among the spotted eagle ray, and the moray eel. Some of
hard coral to stay safe from predators. the larger species hunt hawksbill turtles and
Clown Triggerfish - The clown triggerfish other sharks. Sharks have sharp teeth like the
uses camouflage for protection like the blue moray eel, and like the moray eel, most sharks
dash butterflyfish and the lionfish. It is also are not dangerous to humans unless provoked.
poisonous like the lionfish, the sea anemone, Hard Coral - Its polyps are eaten by the par-
and the spotted eagle ray so predators won’t rotfish and the crown-of-thorns sea star. Its
eat it. It can be eaten by the shark. branches protect the butterflyfish and the

Clownfish and Sea Anemone - The clown- damselfish from predators. The damselfish
fish and sea anemone have a symbiotic rela- farms algae on parts of it. It is an invertebrate
tionship with each other, like the giant clam with tentacles and a mouth like the soft coral
and its zooxanthel-lae. The clownfish can be and sea anemone. Its polyps come out to feed
eaten by the shark and the moray eel. Like at night like the lionfish, the soft coral and
the polyps of the hard coral and soft coral, the shark. Like the spotted eagle ray, the gi-
the anemone is an invertebrate with tentacles ant clam, and the polyps of the soft coral, it
and a mouth. The anemone uses poison for feeds on floating plankton. Like the giant clam,
protection like the lionfish, the clown trigger- it contains zooxanthellae in its tissue which are
fish, and the spotted eagle ray. dependent upon the sun for photosynthesis.
Damselfish - Some damselfish farm algae on Without the sun, there would be no coral reef
the hard coral. They also hide in its branches and no reef life.
like the butterflyfish. It can be eaten by the Hawksbill Turtle - Like the mollusk (giant tri-
shark and the moray eel. ton) and the giant clam, it is protected by a shell
and has been overharvested by humans for its
meat and shell. Like the parrotfish, it is an her-
bivore (vegetarian). Like the gray reef shark and
spotted eagle ray, it swims in the lagoon and
along the reef face. Some sharks eat it.

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