Corals Rescued by — Sea Cucumbers?

There are over 1,200 species of sea cucumber, ranging in size from tiny to about as long as a man is tall, living in very deep water or very shallow. Ugly lumps for the most part that eat algae, waste products, other things. They have been likened to vacuum cleaners for the ocean floor, so sea cucumbers do serve a function. Some folks think they are good to eat.

Coral reefs are ecosystems that resemble condominiums for a variety of residents, but also provide food. The growth rate has been wrongly used to support deep time. Unfortunately, these systems have been dying. This is where the lumps of the sea come in.

Sea cucumbers, NOAA Office of Ocean Exploration and Research (usage does not imply endorsement of site contents)

In what seems to have been an almost accidental discovery, the symbiotic relationship between corals and sea cucumbers (one gets fed, the other gets a clean and healthy living environment) was discovered. When there are plenty of sea cucumbers around coral reefs thrive. There are some serious problems that need to be addressed, and many questions have been raised. It is clear — again — that the Creator has purposes in what he made.

About a fourth of sea creatures live in and around coral reefs, even though they cover 1% of the ocean floor. For decades now, scientists and environmentalists have been sounding alarms about the death of coral reefs worldwide. They blame it on climate and human activities. Well, it’s partly true: humans have been stealing the reef’s janitors, and corals are getting sick.

To read all of the article, dive into "Sea Cucumbers Save Corals."