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בבקשה, הסבר כללי

Coral growth rates are highly variable between species. In optimum conditions in the tropics, some coral species, such as the branching Acropora cervicornis, can display fast growth rates of between 10-20 cm per year while other species, such as Porites, grow much slower at around 1 cm per year.

In cold-water environments, the annual growth rates of corals are especially slow. For example, the annual growth rate for Oculina varicose is estimated at around 1.1-1.6 cm per year depending on coral depth while the growth rate of Lophelia pertusa corals on ship wrecks indicate growth rates ranging from 5-26 mm per year.

The growth rates of all coral species are heavily influenced by environmental conditions and can slow dramatically in response to disease and environmental disturbances including changes in ocean chemistry (salinity and acidification), rising ocean temperatures, sunlight and sedimentation.

מתוך:
http://www.endangeredspeciesinternat...ralreefs3.html