Answer:
1. How will you describe the interactions between the living things in a coral reef ecosystem? Explain your answer.
Plant plankton, called phytoplankton, algae and other plants convert light energy into chemical energy through photosynthesis. As animals eat the plants and other animals, energy is passed through the food chain. Reef building corals work together with microscopic algae, called zooxanthellae, that live in their tissue. The zooxanthellae provide oxygen and food to the coral through photosynthesis.
2. Why is it important to protect and conserve the coral reefs?
Coral reefs provide an important eco system for life underwater, protect costal areas by reducing the power of waves hitting the coast, and provide a crucial source of income for millions of people.