Fact Friday
Sea cucumbers are often referred to as “earthworms of the sea.” These strange-looking creatures are extremely beneficial to coral reefs. They use their tentacles to shovel sand, tiny organisms, and detritus into their mouths. Similar to earthworms, they provide “fertilizer” or food for other animals. They do so by excreting waste products such as calcium carbonate and ammonia, which provides nutrients for other animals like corals.
Photo Credit: Ken Marks
Other Materials
This page has educational materials that do not currently fit into our Coral Reef Ecology Curriculum. Here you will find additional lessons and videos we have developed. For more videos, check out our YouTube channel.
1Overfishing Resources
2Crown of Thorns Starfish (COTS) Resources
3Coral Bleaching
4Videos
5Read It!