Discussion Questions: Energy Flow in the Coral Reef Ecosystem

• Why do you think the polyps only feed on plankton at night?
• What do you think would happen to reef dwellers (e.g., coral, parrot fish, sea cucumbers) if the algae were not able to photosynthesize?
• What is a double diet? What do you think the advantages are, if any, of having a double diet?
• How does energy flow through the reef ecosystem?