Why do deep-sea corals glow in the dark? Scientists have a surprising new explanation!
These corals, which live deep below the water’s surface, sometimes have the ability to fluoresce. According to the researchers, the green and yellow glow they emit helps them attract more zooplankton — that is, it is a lure for potential prey.
Corals — animals that form beautiful reefs, one of Earth’s natural treasures — have a simple structure. Their body is in the form of a polyp attached to the bottom. At the top is a mouth surrounded by feelers, which leads to a receptive and digestive cavity. Corals feed on zooplankton — that is, small organisms that live in the seas and oceans — which they gobble up at the mouth with the help of feelers. They can also consume crustaceans and small fish.
All this, however, is not always enough. Corals have therefore entered into a symbiosis with photosynthesizing algae of the genus Zooxanthellae. They provide the corals with the energy created by photosynthesis and give them the intense colors we admire on healthy, non-fading coral reefs. For photosynthesis, algae need light — which is why most coral reefs are found in shallow coastal waters.
What does an underwater coral feed on?
In addition to corals living near the surface, however, there are also many…
