PRESENTATION NO. 1: CORALS           

I.    DESCRIPTION

      -Invertebrate animals that have a symbiotic relationship with algae and 
dinoflagellates
      -Members of the family Cnidaria
      -Benthic organisms
      -A colony of coral consists of thousands of polyps
      -Corals are carnivores, herbivores and filter feeders

II.    SIGNIFICANCE

      -Primary producers in conjunction with zooxanthellae in reef ecosystems
      -Synthesize biologically active compounds with potential medical 
importance
      -Tourism

III.  CLASSIFICATION

      -Hard corals and Soft Corals
      -Anatomy
      -Feeding behavior
      -Reproduction

IV.   CLAVULARIA VIRIDIS

      -A soft coral
      -Common name:   Green Start Polyp

V.     PHYSICAL CHARACTERISTICS
   
      -Small bright green polyps connected together with a rubbery purple mat
      -Polyps open during the day and retract at night or when disturbed

VI.    ENVIRONMENT

       -Benthic organism found in shallow tropical waters with a specific 
temperature range between 25-28 degree Celsius

 VIII.  FEEDING BEHAVIOR

       -Phototropic organism that depends upon nutrients and oxygen produced by 
its symbiont, zooxanthellae

XI.     IMPORTANCE

       -The coral, Clavularia viridis, synthesizes hormones that inhibit the 
proliferation of certain cancer cells in vitro