摘要：珊瑚礁是庞大的海洋群落。数以百万计的动物和海洋植物生活在其中。珊瑚礁是非常热闹的地方。多种珊瑚构成了珊瑚礁。珊瑚既不是岩石也不是植物。它们是被称为珊瑚虫的微小生物。大多数珊瑚虫比豌豆还小。

该文主要讲述了珊瑚礁的水下群落、种类生存之地、珊瑚礁面临的威胁等。原作者是Paula Schricker，Mr. Herbert的协助下进行编译。

Coral reefs are huge ocean communities. Millions of animals and sea plants live in them. Coral reefs are very busy places. Many kinds of coral make up reefs. Corals are not rocks or plants. They are tiny animals called polyps (珊瑚虫). Most polyps are smaller than a pea.

珊瑚礁是庞大的海洋群落。数以百万计的动物和海洋植物生活在其中。珊瑚礁是非常热闹的地方。多种珊瑚构成了珊瑚礁。珊瑚既不是岩石也不是植物。它们是被称为珊瑚虫的微小生物。大多数珊瑚虫比豌豆还小。

There are two kinds of coral. The first kind is hard corals. These corals have hard skeletons. Over time, thousands of polyp skeletons help build a reef.

珊瑚有两种类型。第一种是硬珊瑚。这些珊瑚有坚硬的骨骼。随着时间推移，成千上万珊瑚虫的骨骼帮助构建起了珊瑚礁。

Algae (藻类（alga 的复数形式）) live in the bodies of these corals. Algae are simple cousins of plants. The algae are food for the corals.

藻类生活在这些珊瑚体内。藻类是植物的简单近亲。藻类是珊瑚的食物。

Soft corals are the second kind of coral. They often look like trees or other plants. These corals can bend with the water currents. Algae live in the bodies of some of them.

软珊瑚是第二种珊瑚。它们常常看起来像树木或其他植物。这些珊瑚能随着水流弯曲。部分软珊瑚体内也有藻类生存。

Many corals are named for what they look like. Brain corals look like brains. Sea fans look like open fans. Sea pens look like old-fashioned pens made from big feathers.

许多珊瑚因其外形而得名。脑珊瑚看起来像大脑。海扇看起来像展开的扇子。海笔看起来像用大羽毛制成的老式钢笔。

来源：英语·点一点号