In a small bay that contains a coral reef, the water temperature has remained the same for decades. Recently, scientists discovered that the water temperature in the bay has increased by 1°C. Which is most likely to happen?(1 point)

Question

In a small bay that contains a coral reef, the water temperature has remained the same for decades. Recently, scientists discovered that the water temperature in the bay has increased by 1°C. Which is most likely to happen?(1 point)
Responses

The corals in the reef will immediately die.
The corals in the reef will immediately die.

The coral in the reef will gain more zooxanthellae.
The coral in the reef will gain more zooxanthellae.

The coral reef will experience a bleaching event.
The coral reef will experience a bleaching event.

The coral reef will undergo a period of intense growth.
The coral reef will undergo a period of intense growth.
Skip to navigation

GPT-4o mini · Answer

The most likely outcome is: **The coral reef will experience a bleaching event.** Coral bleaching occurs when corals become stressed due to changes in their environment, such as increased water temperatures. This stress can cause corals to expel the zooxanthellae (the symbiotic algae living in their tissues), leading to a loss of color and a decline in health. A 1°C increase in water temperature can trigger such events, especially in coral reefs already under threat from other factors.