They get help from an algae called zooxanthellae that live symbiotically in their tissues. Reefs are found in parts of the ocean that are considered to be oligotrophic-which means that there aren’t that many tasty nutrients floating around, like phosphate or nitrate.Īnd coral polyps aren’t exactly mobile, so if they were left to their own devices, they might starve. These polyps are anchored to a sturdy skeleton that they make by laying down a crystallized form of calcium carbonate called aragonite, which is a bright white color. Coral reefs are made up of thousands of tiny polyps, which are squishy sacs with tentacles that can sting and catch prey. The first thing you’ll need is a coral reef-it’s location-specific and unfortunately there’s no store-bought alternative.

There are a couple steps involved, but just one main ingredient: poop.

It turns out, the recipe for that picturesque white sand is pretty simple. Y’know, like the ones in Hawai’i or islands in the South Pacific where people take luxurious vacations and lots of Instagram photos. Let’s say you wanted to make yourself a white, sandy beach. Looking for SciShow elsewhere on the internet?

Support SciShow by becoming a patron on Patreon: ĭooblydoo thanks go to the following Patreon supporters-we couldn't make SciShow without them! Shoutout to Kevin Bealer, Mark Terrio-Cameron, KatieMarie Magnone, Patrick Merrithew, Charles Southerland, Fatima Iqbal, Sultan Alkhulaifi, Tim Curwick, Scott Satovsky Jr, Philippe von Bergen, Bella Nash, Chris Peters, Patrick D. Find out how parrotfish, zooxanthellae, calcium carbonate (aragonite), and poop combine to make the white sandy beach sunbathers love.

Dont starve wiki algae