Here are some of the specific effects of touching coral:
* Damage to the coral's tissue: When you touch coral, you can break or tear its delicate tissue. This can lead to infection and death of the coral.
* Damage to the coral's skeleton: The skeleton of a coral is made of calcium carbonate, which is a hard but brittle material. When you touch coral, you can damage or break the skeleton, which can make the coral more susceptible to damage and death.
* Smothering of the coral: The oils on your skin can smother the coral and block out sunlight. This can prevent the coral from photosynthesizing, which is essential for its survival.
* Spread of disease: When you touch coral, you can spread bacteria and other diseases to the coral. This can lead to infection and death of the coral.
For these reasons, it is important to avoid touching coral whenever possible. If you do come into contact with coral, be sure to rinse your hands thoroughly with salt water and avoid touching any other coral.
