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How Do Coral Reefs Grow So Slowly but Become So Big?
珊瑚礁生长如此缓慢，为何却能变得如此巨大？
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Coral animals are tiny and build hard limestone skeletons.珊瑚动物体型微小，能分泌坚硬的石灰石骨骼。
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Each polyp adds only about one centimeter per year to its structure.每个珊瑚虫每年仅使骨骼增长约一厘米。
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Millions of corals grow together over hundreds of years.数百万珊瑚历经数百年共同生长。
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Old skeletons stay in place while new ones grow on top.老骨骼原地保留，新骨骼在其上继续生长。
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Reefs need warm, clear, shallow ocean water to thrive.珊瑚礁需温暖、清澈、浅海的海水才能繁盛。
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They support more sea life than almost any other habitat.它们支撑的海洋生物种类之多，几乎超过其他任何栖息地。
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Damage from pollution or warming can stop growth for decades.污染或海水变暖造成的破坏可使珊瑚生长停滞数十年。
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Healthy reefs grow steadily—like living stone forests under the sea.健康的珊瑚礁持续生长——宛如海底活着的石质森林。