Coral bleaching, which causes high coral mortality, has been occurring widely in
ID: 24926 • Letter: C
Question
Coral bleaching, which causes high coral mortality, has been occurring widely in coral reefs. Coral bleaching actually refers to the death of symbiotic dinoflagellates living within the corals. Why does coral bleaching cause the corals to die?Dinoflagellates protect the corals from UV radiation.
Dinoflagellates protect the corals from pathogenic bacteria.
Dinoflagellates provide nutrients from the products of photosynthesis to the corals in exchange for a safe place to live.
Dinoflagellates attract zooplankton and other prey that the corals eat.
Dinoflagellates secrete the calcium carbonate that forms the "exoskeleton" of coral animals.
Explanation / Answer
3 main causes for coral bleaching . Primary cause = high water temperature . - increase of 1.5? - 2