Which term describes reef-building corals that secrete calcium carbonate skeletons?

Which term describes reef-building corals that secrete calcium carbonate skeletons?

• A. Hermatypic
• B. Ahermatypic
• C. Medusa
• D. Metamerism

Answer: (A)

Reef-building corals secrete calcium carbonate skeletons to form the hard framework of reefs. The term describing these reef-building corals is hermatypic. Hermatypic corals typically host symbiotic algae (zooxanthellae), which supply energy through photosynthesis and support rapid growth and carbonate deposition in warm, shallow waters. In contrast, corals that do not build reefs are called ahermatypic; they grow more slowly, may live in deeper waters, and contribute less to reef structure. The other terms don’t describe reef-building corals: medusa refers to a free-swimming life stage in some cnidarians, and metamerism means segmentation, which isn’t related to coral skeleton formation.

Reef-building corals secrete calcium carbonate skeletons to form the hard framework of reefs. The term describing these reef-building corals is hermatypic. Hermatypic corals typically host symbiotic algae (zooxanthellae), which supply energy through photosynthesis and support rapid growth and carbonate deposition in warm, shallow waters. In contrast, corals that do not build reefs are called ahermatypic; they grow more slowly, may live in deeper waters, and contribute less to reef structure. The other terms don’t describe reef-building corals: medusa refers to a free-swimming life stage in some cnidarians, and metamerism means segmentation, which isn’t related to coral skeleton formation.