What Colorful Coral Looks Like Under a Microscope

James Weiss of Journey to the Microcosmos had the chance to examine samples of coral underneath a strong microscope. When he cut into the coral, he saw that it released dinoflagellates onto the exterior. These particular dinoflagellates, known as zooxanthellae, maintain a symbiotic connection with the coral, feeding it with the nutrients to form the hard shells and bright colors often associated with coral.

The zooxanthellae live their algae  lives within the coral, absorbing light  and photosynthesizing it into nutrients.  But those nutrients aren’t  really for them. About 90%  of what the zooxanthellae makes  gets sent to the coral instead. …In exchange, the zooxanthellae get the protection  of their coral host. .…Also, the overall effect is beautiful, with zooxanthellae providing  much of the color we associate with corals.

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