Often, the corals will shrink up, close their polyps, or otherwise show their displeasure at this sudden and drastic change in their energy source. It's actually the billions of symbiotoc algaes that are recoiling, sending shockwaves through their host and causing this rapid change in appearance. Within days, and sometimes even hours, the zooxanthellaes will adapt to this new frequency and intensity by changing their absorption capabilities or their overall color. That's right, the coral's color is actually that of their hitch-hiking algaes, adapting to the increases or decreases of ultraviolet and other energy-source factors.
Have you ever looked at a Tridacna clam from the top of the tank, then lower your gaze to a sideways view, only to be disappointed? Strange how dull the clam's color appears from the side, while from above all those rich and vibrant colors seem to shout at the sky? Well, that's the clam's zooxanthellae algaes, doing their thing, protecting the clam's delicate tissues from sunburn!
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