Why Are There No Freshwater Corals?

One of the most productive and physiologically varied groups of marine invertebrates on the globe, corals are a diversified category of marine invertebrates. They can be found in a variety of marine habitats, including deep-sea habitats and shallow tropical reefs. There aren’t any freshwater corals, though. This is so because corals, which cannot thrive in freshwater habitats, have evolved to live in specialized marine circumstances.

Because they require particular environmental conditions to survive, corals are adapted to dwell in maritime habitats. As an illustration, corals rely on symbiotic connections with zooxanthellae, an algae that produces energy for them through photosynthesis. Sunlight, which is exclusively available in maritime areas, is what these algae need. Additionally, only marine habitats can provide the precise water chemistry that corals need, including the ideal temperature, salinity, and nutrient levels.

Although corals are sessile, or fixed to a substrate and not mobile, they can move under specific conditions. For instance, certain corals can shift their position in reaction to changes in the water’s current or the amount of light. In addition, coral larvae are free to wander about and can do so before settling down and adhering to a substrate.

Since corals lack a central nervous system, they do not sleep in the conventional sense. They do, however, engage in daily cycles of activity, such as photosynthesis and eating. Corals are actively photosynthesizing and eating throughout the day, whereas they are largely inert at night.

Corals will expel their symbiotic algae when under stress, such as from pollution or changes in water temperature. This event is known as coral bleaching. Corals that bleach lose their color and become more susceptible to illness and death. Since corals serve as a crucial habitat for a variety of marine organisms, this could have detrimental effects on marine ecosystems.

It’s crucial to pick corals suitable for the tank’s parameters while setting up a new coral reef aquarium. This includes taking into account the size, lighting, and water chemistry of the tank. Both robust stony corals like brain corals and plate corals as well as soft corals like mushrooms and polyps make excellent starter corals. Before including different coral species in a new tank, it’s crucial to understand their individual requirements.

In conclusion, corals cannot thrive in freshwater habitats since they have evolved to exist under specialized marine conditions. Despite being sessile, they can move under certain conditions but do not actually sleep. When setting up a new coral reef tank, it’s crucial to choose corals that are suitable for the tank’s circumstances because coral bleaching can have major repercussions for marine ecosystems.