Which of the Following Statements Describes How Healthy Corals Appear

Question

Which of the following statements describes how healthy corals appear brightly colored?
A) they secrete colorful pigments to attract mates
B) they host symbionts with colorful photosynthetic pigments
C) they build their skeletons from colorful minerals
D) they secrete colorful pigments to protect themselves from ultraviolet light

Accepted Answer

Healthy corals appear brightly colored primarily because they host symbiotic algae known as zooxanthellae, which contain colorful photosynthetic pigments. These pigments are crucial for the process of photosynthesis, which provides essential nutrients to the coral.