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Tag "Mutualism"
Stony Coral
By: Amir Shahrokhi
18-01-2011
“Why, then, do reef corals grow into such plant-like shapes?
Because, although the polyps are not themselves plants, they
have plants within them. The cells in the inner layers of the
polyp’s tissues contain tiny cells of an alga, complete with
their grains of photosynthesising chlorophyll. And the polyp
looks after its captives very well indeed, building its stony
cup in a shape that ensures that they can get all the light
they need."
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