Corals, like all animals, display complex metabolism. That is, the total of combined chemical reactions which take place in an organism. Corals are known to produce toxins, which is the reason why coral reefs are not tranquill places, but actually theatres of chemical warfare. These toxins, such as steroids and terpenes, are released by corals to kill off neighbouring colonies, in a constant struggle for space. They also defend the coral against predators.

Not only does toxin research provide more insight into how corals compete on the reef, drug development is stimulated as well. Read more about the latest discoveries in this section.