Cnidaria (or Coelenterata) is a phylum of invertebrate animals that includes corals, jellies (jelly fish), and sea anemones. In this video, I go over cnidaria anatomy, structure, morphology (septa, tabulae, dissepiments, etc.) classification (Rugosa, Tabulata, Scleractinia) reproduction, ecology, reef evolution, and avenues for future research. I focus on corals as this is a paleontology video and corals are the most well preserved of the common cnidarians because they have a hard skeleton. Throughout Earth's history, corals have belonged to three major groups, Tabulate corals, Rugose corals and Scleractinians or Hexacorals. From the cambrian explosion at about 500 million years ago to the Permian extinction of "Great Dying" around 250 million years ago, Rugose and Tabulate corals were the only living groups, they went extinct at the End Permian Extinction and ever since then, Scleractinian corals have been the only major group and represent all modern corals. In terms of ecology, corals live in many environments, more than just the warm shallow water we are used to seeing them in. There are deep water corals too. I then go on to discuss the difference between hermatypic and ahermatypic corals and lastly, the effect of global warming on corals and what coral bleaching really means for the corals life.

References: Prothero, D.R. (2013). Bringing Fossils to Life: An Introduction to Paleobiology. Third Edition. Chapter 13: Colonial Life: Sponges, Archaeocyathans, and Cnidarians. pp. 303-321. Columbia University Press. [ Ссылка ]

GEO GIRL Website: [ Ссылка ] (visit my website to see all my courses, shop merch, learn more about me, and donate to support the channel if you'd like!)

0:00 What are cnidarians?
1:52 Cnidarian morphology
3:15 Cnidarian reproduction
4:53 Cnidarian classification
5:57 Tabulate corals
7:25 Rugose corals
9:47 Scleractinian (modern) corals
11:45 Cnidarian evolution
14:14 Cnidarian ecology
14:49 Hermatypic vs. ahermatypic corals
15:39 Coral bleaching & global warming effects

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Bamboo toilet paper: [ Ссылка ]
Bamboo paper towels: [ Ссылка ]
Compostable tableware: [ Ссылка ]
Compostable trash bags: [ Ссылка ]
Bamboo cutlery + straw! : [ Ссылка ]
Eco-Friendly Tote (great for grocery shopping!): [ Ссылка ]
Reusable straws + cleaning brushes (my fav!): [ Ссылка ]
Eco-friendly laundry detergent: [ Ссылка ]

Directly offset your carbon footprint with Wren: [ Ссылка ]
(Just click link, press get started, take the free C footprint quiz, then choose how much you want to reduce your footprint by donating to the C sequestration projects they're funding!)

Non-textbook books I recommend:
Oxygen by D. Canfield: [ Ссылка ]
Brief history of Earth by A. Knoll: [ Ссылка ]
Life on young planet by A. Knoll: [ Ссылка ]
Some assembly required by N. Shubin: [ Ссылка ]
Your inner fish by N. Shubin: [ Ссылка ]
Oxygen by N. Lane: [ Ссылка ]
Alien Oceans by K. Hand: [ Ссылка ]
Life's Engines: [ Ссылка ]

Tools I use as a geologist/teacher/student:
Geology field notebook: [ Ссылка ]
Geology rock hammer: [ Ссылка ]
Geological compass: [ Ссылка ]
Geological hand lens: [ Ссылка ]
Camera: [ Ссылка ]

Image sources:
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