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 coral reef will undergo a period of intense growth.
The coral reef will undergo a period of intense growth.

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

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

The coral reef will experience a bleaching event.

GPT-4o mini · Answer

The most likely response is: **The coral reef will experience a bleaching event.** Coral reefs are highly sensitive to changes in water temperature. A rise in temperature, even by 1°C, can lead to coral bleaching, where corals expel the zooxanthellae algae that live in their tissues and provide them with energy. This process can harm the coral and lead to long-term damage to the reef ecosystem.