CoralPolyps
From coraldigest
Coral Polyps
"Corals don't have 'immune memory,' such as the T cells and antibodies found in humans. Instead they have an ancient defense system called the innate immune system." [1]
- ↑ Burge CA, Mouchka ME, Harvell CD and Roberts S (2013) Immune response of the Caribbean sea fan, Gorgonia ventalina, exposed to an Aplanochytrium parasite as revealed by transcriptome sequencing. Front. Physiol. 4:180. doi: 10.3389/fphys.2013.00180 http://www.frontiersin.org/Invertebrate_Physiology/10.3389/fphys.2013.00180/abstract
General Definition and Space
- talk about what a Polyp is and where they are found [1]
Anatomy
- Describe the different parts that make up the Polyp and what they do. (Tentacle, mouth, basal plate, etc.)[2]
- Explain how nerve cells loosely connect Polyps to one another creating a nerve net between a colony of Polyps
Symbiotic relationship with zooxanthellae
- Define symbiosis.
- Explain how Polyps and Zooxzanthellae have a symbiotic relationship. (what each does for each other)[3]
- Explain how through this relationship both are mutually benefited.
- Explain how the relationship is also obligative. Meaning that, in most cases, neither can live without the other.
Stony Coral and Soft Coral Coral
- Stony corals make a calcium carbonate skeleton, soft corals do not do this
Feeding
- How Polyps are able to use their tentacles to pull in zooplankton and small fish to their mouths
Reproduction
- Explain the process of reproduction
References
- ↑ Gray, Susan Heinrichs. Coral Reefs. Minneapolis, Minn: Compass Point Books, 2000. eBook Collection (EBSCOhost). Web. 22 Feb. 2014.
- ↑ Pechenik, J. A. . Biology of the invertebrates. sixth. McGraw-Hill, 2010. print.
- ↑ NOAA, NOAA Coral Reef Conservation Program Coral 101. NOAA. Web. 5 Mar 2014. <http://coralreef.noaa.gov/aboutcorals/coral101/>.