What causes coral bleaching?(1 point)

Responses

Water acidity causes coral polyps to lose their photosynthetic abilities, causing them to turn white in color.
Water acidity causes coral polyps to lose their photosynthetic abilities, causing them to turn white in color.

High water temperatures boil coral polyps, causing them to turn white in color.
High water temperatures boil coral polyps, causing them to turn white in color.

High water temperatures and water acidity cause coral polyps to expel algae, causing them to turn white in color.
High water temperatures and water acidity cause coral polyps to expel algae, causing them to turn white in color.

Water acidity and high water temperatures make coral polyps more prone to infection, causing them to turn white in color.

1 answer

The correct response is:

High water temperatures and water acidity cause coral polyps to expel algae, causing them to turn white in color.

Coral bleaching occurs when corals experience stress from factors like elevated water temperatures and increased acidity, leading them to expel the symbiotic algae (zooxanthellae) that live in their tissues. This loss causes the corals to turn white, as the brightly colored algae are no longer present.