Biology of the softcorals

Their support-substance is made of horn. The soft-balied corals don´t make a contribution to the building of the reef and compete with stone-corals for food and sunlight. They excrete substances which stop other corals from growing.

Special quality of the Red Sea

The reefs of the Red Sea are the northernmost on earth. The special location of the Red Sea is responsible for this fact. Constant northwinds mix the water at a depth of about 1 800 m and so the Red Sea runs a relatively high temperature in greater depths. Because of this "heating" the temperature of the water doesn´t sink below 20°C in the winter (a favourable condition for coral growth).

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