Zooplankton feeding by corals underestimated
Research by marine biologists from Wageningen University has shown that feeding on zooplankton by scleractinian corals has been greatly underestimated.
Research by marine biologists from Wageningen University has shown that feeding on zooplankton by scleractinian corals has been greatly underestimated.
Scientists from Taiwan and Israel have found that octocorals are important reef builders. This exciting discovery makes us rethink the very nature of coral reefs.
Epizoic coral flatworms have been found to compete with their coral host for zooplankton. This finding is in agreement with the theory that symbiotic coral flatworms are parasitic.
Small polyped stony corals are often believed to simply rely on strong lighting and dissolved nutrients. But even these corals capture significant amounts of plankton.
| The beauty of plankton feeding |
| Written by Tim Wijgerde |
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The beauty of filter and suspension feeding marine organisms is unsurpassed. The husbandry of these fascinating sea creatures is rapidly improving, with the advent of new filtration techniques and plankton derivatives. Watch a video which displays these stunning animals in full glory!
Read an article about these unique marine animals from our archive!
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