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How Do Coral Reefs Build Massive Structures Over Thousands of Years?
珊瑚礁如何在数千年间建造出庞大的结构？
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Coral reefs grow slowly as tiny polyps secrete calcium carbonate skeletons that stack up over generations.
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Each polyp lives only a few years, but its hard skeleton remains and provides a base for new coral to settle.
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Algae living inside coral tissues supply food through photosynthesis, helping corals build skeletons faster.
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Ocean temperature, acidity, and sunlight depth all affect how quickly reefs can expand each year.
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Storms, predators, and disease sometimes break parts of the reef, but regrowth usually follows within months.
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Fossilized reef layers reveal ancient sea levels and climate conditions from millions of years ago.
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Modern reefs face threats from warming oceans, which cause corals to expel their colorful algae partners.
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Despite covering less than 1% of the ocean floor, reefs support nearly 25% of marine species.
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Engineers now copy coral growth patterns to design stronger, self-healing concrete materials.
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These underwater cities prove that patience, chemistry, and cooperation can shape entire ecosystems.