The symbiotic relationships between marine animals and coral reefs

Pistol shrimp build burrows shared with goby fish, who warn of predators, a mutualistic relationship, as both gain safety, per Seattle Yachts.

Christmas tree worms bore into coral skeletons, damaging them for food and shelter, a parasitic relationship, per Sciencing.

Parrotfish eat algae, preventing it from smothering corals, a mutualistic relationship, as reefs provide habitat, per Frontiers in Marine Science.

Corals expel zooxanthellae under stress, leading to coral bleaching and potential death, as they lose their nutrient source, per NOAA.

Decorator crabs snip sponges to cover their shells, gaining camouflage, while sponges feed via crab movement, a mutualistic relationship, per Scuba.com.

Hawksbill turtles eat sponges, preventing them from outcompeting corals, a mutualistic relationship, as reefs provide turtle habitat, per Coral Reef Alliance.

Barnacles attach to whales, gaining access to plankton-rich waters, a commensal relationship, as whales are unaffected, per National Geographic.

Cleaner wrasse eat parasites off larger fish, gaining food, while the fish get cleaned, a mutualistic relationship, per Maui Ocean Center.

Clownfish secrete mucus to resist anemone stings, gaining protection, while anemones eat food scraps, a mutualistic relationship, per Nature.

Zooxanthellae, photosynthetic algae, live in coral polyps, supplying 90% of their nutrients through photosynthesis, while corals provide shelter, per NOAA.