Crab and Coral Interaction
Crab vs. Coral
CRABS ON CAMERA
SPOT THE CORAL
Reef Ripple Effects
100
What part of the crab is like a built in fork?
The claw
100
This scientific term describes an animal feeding on living coral tissue, mucus, or skeleton.
Corallivory
100
This red crab is Ariel’s musical friend in The Little Mermaid.
Sebastian
100
These corals grow upward in thin, tree-like branches
branching corals
100
Repeated feeding on a coral can reduce this basic measure of how quickly a colony gets larger.
coral growth
200
What surface is the crab repeatedly picking material from while feeding.
The reef surface/substrate
200
If a crab removes and consumes living coral tissue, the crab is the consumer and the coral plays this ecological role.
Prey
200
Tamatoa, the giant treasure-loving crab, appears in this Disney movie.
Moana
200
These massive corals form rounded shapes that can look a bit like giant underwater boulders
massive corals
200
A feeding wound can expose coral skeleton and create space that may later be colonised by organisms such as these photosynthetic reef competitors.
algae
300
What plant like plant-like material is removed while feeding?
Algae/Algal
300
Unlike a rock or plant, a coral colony is actually made up of thousands of these tiny animals.
coral polyps
300
Mr. Krabs owns this restaurant in SpongeBob SquarePants
Krusty Krab
300
These corals form broad horizontal surfaces resembling dinnerware
plate/table corals
300
If a coral repeatedly spends energy repairing feeding wounds, it may have less energy available for producing these.What are eggs and sperm / reproduction?
eggs and sperm / reproduction
400
By removing algae or other material, crabs feeding can influence competition for this limited reef resource.
Space
400
When coral tissue is removed, the colony must redirect energy and cellular resources toward this process instead of growth or reproduction.
Wound healing / tissue regeneration?
400
This famous crab is a miserly restaurant owner obsessed with money
Mr. Krabs
400
These corals have distinctive winding ridges and valleys that resemble a human organ.
brain coral
400
If corallivores consistently prefer some coral species over others, their feeding can eventually alter this feature of the reef.
coral community composition
500
One crab’s breakfast seems tiny, but repeated feeding by many reef animals can help shape this larger ecological feature.
Reef/Benthic community
500
Coral feeding does not always involve breaking the skeleton. Some crabs associated with corals primarily consume this energy-rich substance continuously produced by the coral.
coral mucus
500
What is this pokemon called
Krabby
500
What is the actual scientific name of this coral
Acropora
500
Heat stress, pollution and coral feeding can act together, meaning a feeding injury may be more difficult for a coral to recover from when it is already experiencing this general condition.
environmental stress