Floreana coral  (Tubastraea floreana)

El Niño: A natural phenomenon that happens every 4 to 12 years, and lasts for several months, when upwelling of cold, nutrient-rich water does not occur. This causes the warming of ocean surface water off the western coast of South America and causes die-offs of plankton and fish. It also affects Pacific jet stream winds, altering storm tracks and creating unusual weather patterns in various parts of the world.
Polyps: The typically sedentary soft-bodied components of cnidaria, a group of simple aquatic animals including the sea anemones, corals and jellyfish. Each polyp comprises a trunk that is fixed at the base, and a mouth that is placed at the opposite end of the trunk and is surrounded by tentacles.
Zooplankton: Tiny aquatic animals that drift with currents or swim weakly in water.

1. IUCN Red List (September, 2007)
   http://www.iucnredlist.org
   
2. CITES (July, 2008)
   http://www.cites.org
   
3. Veron, J. (2000) Corals of the World. Australian Institute of Marine Science, Townsville, Australia.
   
4. Glynn, P.W. and Wellington, G.M. (1983) Corals and Coral Reefs of the Galapagos Islands. University of California Press, Berkeley and Los Angeles, California.
   
5. Barnes, R.D. (1987) Invertebrate Zoology. Fifth Edition. Saunders College Publishing, US.