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.

GPT-4o mini · Answer

The most likely outcome is: **The coral reef will experience a bleaching event.** Increased water temperatures can lead to coral bleaching, which occurs when corals expel the symbiotic zooxanthellae algae that live in their tissues, resulting in the loss of color and essential nutrients. While a 1°C increase may not immediately cause the corals to die or gain more zooxanthellae, it can create stress that triggers bleaching.