Corals

Canada

The frigid waters off the Canadian coast might be the last place you would expect to find corals, associated as they are with warmer climes. Researchers have identified several dozen species of the invertebrates off the Atlantic coasts of Nova Scotia and New Brunswick, however, and corals have also been discovered in the North Pacific and even the Arctic.^{1 2}

Unlike their tropical cousins, cold-water corals do not depend on light-sensitive algae to produce food, so they can grow at depths of a mile or more.³ The corals—some of which produce substances that have been used in cancer treatment trials—are also found mainly as individuals rather than forming reefs.⁴

Next: La Corbière

References

1. Oasis of the Deep: Cold Water Corals of Canada. Science.gc.ca. 9 May 2011. Accessed 26 June 2013.
2. National Centre of Expertise - Cold-Water Corals and Sponge Reefs. Fisheries and Oceans Canada. 22 Apr. 2013. Accessed 26 June 2013.
3. Deep-Sea Corals in Atlantic Canada. Centre for Marine Biodiversity. Accessed 26 June 2013.
4. British Columbian Corals. Department of Geography. Accessed 26 June 2013.

Published 2018-06-18