{"id":3,"date":"2021-09-19T01:59:54","date_gmt":"2021-09-19T01:59:54","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/coralmar.org\/?page_id=3"},"modified":"2021-10-18T13:56:15","modified_gmt":"2021-10-18T19:56:15","slug":"que-son-los-corales","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/coralmar.org\/en\/que-son-los-corales\/","title":{"rendered":""},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"wpb-content-wrapper\"><div data-vc-full-width=\"true\" data-vc-full-width-temp=\"true\" data-vc-full-width-init=\"false\" data-vc-parallax=\"2.5\" data-vc-parallax-o-fade=\"on\" data-vc-parallax-image=\"https:\/\/coralmar.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/elisa-areano-foto-7.jpg\" class=\"vc_row wpb_row vc_row-fluid vc_custom_1634247950083 vc_row-has-fill vc_general vc_parallax vc_parallax-content-moving-fade js-vc_parallax-o-fade row-overlay bg-image-ps-inherit\"><div class=\"wpb_column vc_column_container vc_col-sm-12\"><div class=\"vc_column-inner\"><div class=\"wpb_wrapper\"><div id=\"ct-heading\" class=\"ct-heading align-center align-center-md align-center-sm align-center-xs\">\n            <style type=\"text\/css\">\n            @media (min-width: 991px) and (max-width: 1200px) {\n                #ct-heading .ct-heading-tag {\n                                            font-size: 25px !important;\n                                                        }\n            }\n        <\/style>\n    \n            <style type=\"text\/css\">\n            @media (min-width: 768px) and (max-width: 991px) {\n                #ct-heading .ct-heading-tag {\n                                            font-size: 18px !important;\n                                                        }\n            }\n        <\/style>\n    \n            <style type=\"text\/css\">\n            @media screen and (max-width: 767px) {\n                #ct-heading .ct-heading-tag {\n                                            font-size: 32px !important;\n                                                        }\n            }\n        <\/style>\n                    <div class=\"ct-heading-sub sub- style1\" style=\"color:#ffffff;font-size:35px;font-weight:800;\">\n            <span style=\"background-color:#ffffff;\"><\/span>\n            What are coral reefs?                    <\/div>\n        <h1 class=\"ct-heading-tag typing-style1\" style=\"margin-top:10px;margin-bottom:10px;color:#ffffff;font-size:45px;text-transform:uppercase;font-weight:800; \">\n            <\/h1>\n            <div class=\"h-gap\"><i ><\/i><\/div>\n        <\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><div class=\"vc_row-full-width vc_clearfix\"><\/div><div class=\"vc_row wpb_row vc_row-fluid bg-image-ps-inherit\"><div class=\"wpb_column vc_column_container vc_col-sm-12\"><div class=\"vc_column-inner\"><div class=\"wpb_wrapper\"><div class=\"vc_empty_space\"   style=\"height: 32px\"><span class=\"vc_empty_space_inner\"><\/span><\/div><h1 style=\"text-align: left;font-family:Roboto Slab;font-weight:700;font-style:normal\" class=\"vc_custom_heading vc_do_custom_heading\" >What Are Coral Reefs?<\/h1><div class=\"vc_empty_space\"   style=\"height: 32px\"><span class=\"vc_empty_space_inner\"><\/span><\/div><div class=\"vc_separator wpb_content_element vc_separator_align_center vc_sep_width_100 vc_sep_pos_align_center vc_separator_no_text vc_sep_color_grey wpb_content_element  wpb_content_element\" ><span class=\"vc_sep_holder vc_sep_holder_l\"><span class=\"vc_sep_line\"><\/span><\/span><span class=\"vc_sep_holder vc_sep_holder_r\"><span class=\"vc_sep_line\"><\/span><\/span>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><div class=\"vc_row wpb_row vc_row-fluid row-boxshadow-top bg-image-ps-inherit\"><div class=\"wpb_column vc_column_container vc_col-sm-6\"><div class=\"vc_column-inner\"><div class=\"wpb_wrapper\">\n\t<div class=\"wpb_text_column wpb_content_element\" >\n\t\t<div class=\"wpb_wrapper\">\n\t\t\t<p>Corals are organisms that develop successfully in tropical seas, they are the builders of the reef formed by sedentary colonies of hundreds or thousands of very delicate organisms called polyps, belonging to the animal kingdom, and are associated in symbiosis with the presence of an alga called Zooxanthella, which lives inside the polyp tissue and is essential for the production of oxygen, and the release of carbon dioxide, among other elements.<\/p>\n<p>Thanks to this symbiosis (Figure 1), the polyps can build large calcium carbon skeletons to give structure to the reef and provide a safe and predator-free environment for the zooxanthellae, except under stressful conditions where the algae can be expelled from the polyp and because the zooxanthellae provide the diversity of colors and pigments to the corals, it results in coral bleaching, however, together they collaborate with other organisms to provide nutrients essential for their growth.<\/p>\n\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><div class=\"wpb_column vc_column_container vc_col-sm-1\"><div class=\"vc_column-inner\"><div class=\"wpb_wrapper\"><\/div><\/div><\/div><div class=\"wpb_column vc_column_container vc_col-sm-5\"><div class=\"vc_column-inner\"><div class=\"wpb_wrapper\">\n\t<div  class=\"wpb_single_image wpb_content_element vc_align_left wpb_content_element inherit inherit\">\n\t\t\n\t\t<figure class=\"wpb_wrapper vc_figure\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"vc_single_image-wrapper default  vc_box_border_grey\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"640\" height=\"420\" src=\"https:\/\/coralmar.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/zooxantela.png\" class=\"vc_single_image-img attachment-full\" alt=\"\" title=\"zooxantela\" \/><\/div>\n\t\t<\/figure>\n\t<\/div>\n\n\t<div class=\"wpb_text_column wpb_content_element\" >\n\t\t<div class=\"wpb_wrapper\">\n\t\t\t<p style=\"text-align: center; font-size: small;\"><i>Figure 1. Coral symbiosis, Zooxanthellae. Far-Reaching Ecological Systems <\/i><\/p>\n<p style=\"text-align: center; font-size: small;\"><i>https:\/\/www.behance.net\/gallery\/4040147\/Far-Reacing-Ecological-Systems.<\/i><\/p>\n\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><div class=\"vc_row wpb_row vc_row-fluid row-boxshadow-top bg-image-ps-inherit\"><div class=\"wpb_column vc_column_container vc_col-sm-6\"><div class=\"vc_column-inner\"><div class=\"wpb_wrapper\">\n\t<div class=\"wpb_text_column wpb_content_element\" >\n\t\t<div class=\"wpb_wrapper\">\n\t\t\t<p>Within the way of life of corals, food can be obtained from suspended particles, bacteria, and organic compounds diluted in the water. On the other hand, the reproduction of these organisms is very varied, they can reproduce continuously or only in one season and there are two types of reproduction: sexual reproduction consists of the fertilization of gametes either internally or externally, there is genetic variability and in some species, the sexes may be separated known as gonochoric or if they have both sexes they are hermaphrodites, and the other type of reproduction is asexual, by fragmentation, in this type of reproduction there is no genetic variability, and it is a strategy to increase the number of colonies in an area by simple division of polyps (Photo 1) for the growth of genetically identical individuals.<\/p>\n\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n\n\t<div class=\"wpb_text_column wpb_content_element\" >\n\t\t<div class=\"wpb_wrapper\">\n\t\t\t<p>During their development, corals deposit a skeleton that adds to the construction of the reef, this skeleton is lifeless so the surface of the reef is the living part that maintains the colonies, in these formations, there are different forms of life of animals and algae, such as mollusks, sponges, coralline algae, tubeworms, fish, among other non-reef building corals, such as fire coral, gorgonians and soft corals, and being the dominant element for all the diversity, this type of ecosystem is called reef systems.<\/p>\n\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n\n\t<div class=\"wpb_text_column wpb_content_element\" >\n\t\t<div class=\"wpb_wrapper\">\n\t\t\t<p>Regarding the growth rate of corals, it is estimated between 1 to 10 cm per year depending on the different species, there are some that are slow-growing and others that are fast-growing such as branching species, which give more roughness and structure to the reef system, despite these small measures, it is impressive the formation of these structures of the reef systems of the world through time, they are undoubtedly the most ancient communities of the sea, with a geological history of more than 500 million years.<\/p>\n\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><div class=\"wpb_column vc_column_container vc_col-sm-1\"><div class=\"vc_column-inner\"><div class=\"wpb_wrapper\"><\/div><\/div><\/div><div class=\"wpb_column vc_column_container vc_col-sm-5\"><div class=\"vc_column-inner\"><div class=\"wpb_wrapper\"><div class=\"vc_empty_space\"   style=\"height: 32px\"><span class=\"vc_empty_space_inner\"><\/span><\/div>\n\t<div  class=\"wpb_single_image wpb_content_element vc_align_left wpb_content_element inherit inherit\">\n\t\t\n\t\t<figure class=\"wpb_wrapper vc_figure\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"vc_single_image-wrapper default  vc_box_border_grey\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1500\" height=\"1097\" src=\"https:\/\/coralmar.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/Colonia-Polipos-Orbicella-anularis-Ximena-lizaola.jpg\" class=\"vc_single_image-img attachment-full\" alt=\"\" title=\"Colonia-P\u00f3lipos-Orbicella-anularis-Ximena-lizaola\" srcset=\"https:\/\/coralmar.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/Colonia-Polipos-Orbicella-anularis-Ximena-lizaola.jpg 1500w, https:\/\/coralmar.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/Colonia-Polipos-Orbicella-anularis-Ximena-lizaola-768x562.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1500px) 100vw, 1500px\" \/><\/div>\n\t\t<\/figure>\n\t<\/div>\n\n\t<div class=\"wpb_text_column wpb_content_element\" >\n\t\t<div class=\"wpb_wrapper\">\n\t\t\t<p style=\"text-align: center; font-size: small;\"><i>Photo 1. Colony of polyps of Orbicella annularis, the coloration of the corals is due to the zooxanthellae responsible for pigmentation. Photo: Ximena Lizaola<\/i><\/p>\n\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><div class=\"vc_row wpb_row vc_row-fluid bg-image-ps-inherit\"><div class=\"wpb_column vc_column_container vc_col-sm-12\"><div class=\"vc_column-inner\"><div class=\"wpb_wrapper\"><div class=\"vc_separator wpb_content_element vc_separator_align_center vc_sep_width_100 vc_sep_pos_align_center vc_separator_no_text vc_sep_color_grey wpb_content_element  wpb_content_element\" ><span class=\"vc_sep_holder vc_sep_holder_l\"><span class=\"vc_sep_line\"><\/span><\/span><span class=\"vc_sep_holder vc_sep_holder_r\"><span class=\"vc_sep_line\"><\/span><\/span>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><div class=\"vc_row wpb_row vc_row-fluid row-boxshadow-top bg-image-ps-inherit\"><div class=\"wpb_column vc_column_container vc_col-sm-6\"><div class=\"vc_column-inner\"><div class=\"wpb_wrapper\">\n\t<div class=\"wpb_text_column wpb_content_element\" >\n\t\t<div class=\"wpb_wrapper\">\n\t\t\t<p>And that's not all coral reefs are! they are also geographic barriers that protect the coastal zone and rainforest, buffering and dissipating the energy of tropical storms and hurricanes to avoid high-level natural catastrophes, protect hundreds of animals, and are the refuge of many species of fish, which attracts one of the most important predators in the ocean, All these energies flow provide environmental services for developing communities (Photo 2) through tourism and fishing, are an important financial source for humans and a natural resource necessary for the functioning of the ecosystem.<\/p>\n\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n\n\t<div class=\"wpb_text_column wpb_content_element\" >\n\t\t<div class=\"wpb_wrapper\">\n\t\t\t<p>However, for several decades this symbiosis has been in a fragile balance that is affected by various factors of climate change, such as high elevations in temperature and acidification, causing coral bleaching until its death, and on the other hand, anthropocentric activities such as mangrove deforestation, pollution, strandings, oil spills, sewage discharge, among others,  anthropocentric activities such as mangrove deforestation, pollution, strandings, oil spills, sewage discharge, among others, causing serious diseases that can kill the colonies and eventually the surface layer of the reef leaving only the calcareous skeleton of the coral. The current loss of coral reefs has drawn attention in different parts of the world, their growth is no longer sufficient to compensate for the loss caused by human misuse of natural resources.<\/p>\n<p>For these reasons, it is important to know the reef builders, their problems, and the solutions of different organizations, institutions, and the participation of the communities for the restoration of these colonies so important for humans and nature.<\/p>\n\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><div class=\"wpb_column vc_column_container vc_col-sm-1\"><div class=\"vc_column-inner\"><div class=\"wpb_wrapper\"><\/div><\/div><\/div><div class=\"wpb_column vc_column_container vc_col-sm-5\"><div class=\"vc_column-inner\"><div class=\"wpb_wrapper\">\n\t<div  class=\"wpb_single_image wpb_content_element vc_align_left wpb_content_element inherit inherit\">\n\t\t\n\t\t<figure class=\"wpb_wrapper vc_figure\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"vc_single_image-wrapper default  vc_box_border_grey\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"682\" src=\"https:\/\/coralmar.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/servicios-ambientales-ximena-lizaola.jpg\" class=\"vc_single_image-img attachment-full\" alt=\"\" title=\"servicios-ambientales-ximena-lizaola\" srcset=\"https:\/\/coralmar.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/servicios-ambientales-ximena-lizaola.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/coralmar.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/10\/servicios-ambientales-ximena-lizaola-768x512.jpg 768w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/div>\n\t\t<\/figure>\n\t<\/div>\n\n\t<div class=\"wpb_text_column wpb_content_element\" >\n\t\t<div class=\"wpb_wrapper\">\n\t\t\t<p style=\"text-align: center; font-size: small;\"><i>Photo 2. Coral reefs provide environmental services and support the local economy of the communities.<\/i><\/p>\n\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><br \/>\n<div id=\"contacto\" class=\"vc_row wpb_row vc_row-fluid bg-image-ps-inherit\"><div class=\"wpb_column vc_column_container vc_col-sm-12\"><div class=\"vc_column-inner\"><div class=\"wpb_wrapper\"><div class=\"vc_empty_space\"   style=\"height: 32px\"><span class=\"vc_empty_space_inner\"><\/span><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"\u00bfQu\u00e9 son los corales? \u00bfQu\u00e9 son los arrecifes de coral? Los corales son organismos que se desarrollan exitosamente en mares tropicales, son los constructores del arrecife formados por colonias sedentarias de cientos o miles de organismos muy delicados llamados p\u00f3lipos, pertenecientes al reino animal, y est\u00e1n asociados en simbiosis con la presencia de un alga [...]","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-3","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/coralmar.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/3","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/coralmar.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/coralmar.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/coralmar.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/coralmar.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=3"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/coralmar.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/3\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/coralmar.org\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=3"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}