Why are healthy corals brightly coloured?
A) Corals secrete colourful pigments to attract mates.
B) Corals build their skeletons from colourful minerals.
C) Corals host symbionts with colourful photosynthetic pigments.
D) Corals secrete colourful pigments to warn predators that they are poisonous.
E) Corals secrete colourful pigments to protect themselves from UV light.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Healthy corals are brightly coloured because they host symbiotic algae called zooxanthellae within their tissues. These algae are photosynthetic and produce colourful pigments such as chlorophyll. The bright colours of corals are therefore a reflection of their symbiotic relationship with these algae.

Why Are Healthy Corals Brightly Coloured