Round 6: Tossup 2

The value of delta-O-18 measured in foraminifera (“for-uh-min-NIF-er-uh”) and these organisms’ coenosteum (“see-NESS-tee-um”) can extrapolate historical temperatures. Some of these organisms called Scleractinia (10[2])(“sclair-ac-TIN-ee-uh”) form tree-like (-5[1])growth rings of aragonite. The fact that these organisms flourish in nutrient-poor environments (10[1])is called Darwin’s paradox. Ecosystems centered (10[1])on these organisms have (10[1])“platform” and “fringing” types. (-5[1])Rising temperatures (10[1])cause symbiotic zooxanthellae (-5[1])(“zoh-uh-zan-THELL-eye”) to be expelled by these (10[1])cnidarians (“nigh-DARE-ee-ins”), turning them white. These organisms (10[2])absorb less calcium carbonate into their skeletons when the ocean is (10[1])acidic. For 10 points, a quarter of the world’s marine life is hosted by what organisms’ reefs? ■END■ (10[1])

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