Coral reefs are made up mostly of coral colonies like these. Corals are live animals made up of a colony of individual "polyps." Each polyp produces a hard skeleton in a cuplike shape for protection ...

When it comes to the well-being of coral reefs, for many years scientists focused on bleaching, an event that can endanger corals and the diverse marine ecosystems that they support. In bleaching, ...

In a comprehensive study of healthy corals, scientists report that coral bacteria are a surprisingly diverse bunch -- and that different sections of the coral body can host unique communities of ...