ELK HORN CORAL AND A TREE

By Mary O'Leary

QUESTION: What are some similarities and differences between elk horn coral and a tree/

HYPOTHESIS: I believe they both need light to grow. Coral grow in water, and trees grow in air and soil. They are made up of different materials.

PROCEDURE: Observe an elk horn coral and a tree. Compare the similarities and differences you see.

DATA:

ELK HORN CORAL

TREE

Animal / Plant

animal

plant

Fixed / Mobile

fixed

Single organism / collection of many organisms

collection of many organisms

single organisms

Material in which it lives

water

air and soil

Has a rigid skeleton of

calcium carbonate

wood and cellulose

Animals which live in its branches

fish

birds / squirrels

Animals which eat it

fish

birds

Growth affected by movement

branches grow parallel to current or wave action

wind can cause a tree to grow slanted

Need light to live

photosynthetically produced food

Reproduction

asexual

CONCLUSION: Elk horn coral and trees both need light to survive. They are both fixed and other animals live among their branches. They also have many differences.

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