Those mucous corals

2004/03/09 Elhuyar Zientzia

• Zoologia
• Ekologia

The branches of the coral are covered by a viscous matter. For this, coral polyps devote a lot of time and energy to the manufacture of mucus. Normally they coexist with photosynthetic algae in symbiosis and, more or less, they use in this process half of the matter extracted from this symbiosis, that is, half of the organic matter made by another living for them is used in the manufacture of mucus. Scientists believe that such a high expenditure must have a solid reason, since it consumes a resource of great importance to generate mucus.

Some of the causes of this behavior have long been known. On the one hand, mucus helps coral maintain a proper moisture level. On the other hand, it protects against infections.

Now, biologists have wanted to know more about this feature by analyzing the mucus cycle. The mucus gradually dissolves in the water and disperses around the coral. This mucus is a fertilizer for the microorganisms of the area, both for the floating ones and for those who live in the bottom sediments. The environment is enriched.

The enriched environment offers, among other things, the necessary material to feed corals, so the whole cycle is a way to recycle fertilizers. Therefore, coral recovers those fertilizers lost through mucus.