Read the following passage and study the graph. Then answer the questions.

Question

Many types of coral have experienced declines in their abundance over the past several decades. The Global Coral Reef Monitoring Network has collected data to show that 14% of the coral in the world have disappeared since 2009. Many scientists believe factors like global warming and pollution contribute to the decrease in coral populations. One type of coral is called the great star coral. It is found in the Atlantic Ocean and Caribbean Sea. It forms colonies that look like boulders. As with many coral species, it is susceptible to diseases. It is likely that increased ocean temperatures increase the risk of coral diseases. The graph below shows changes in the population of living great star coral in an area studied by the Coral Reef Evaluation and Monitoring Project in Florida.

Sources: (1) Colbert, Angela. Vanishing Corals, part One: NASA Data Helps Track Coral Reefs. NASA Global Climate Change. (2) CREMP Dashboard. Coral Reef Evaluation and Monitoring Project. Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.

Reminder: Images may not display correctly on a phone. You should take your assessments on an actual computer.

a. Given the information above and what you learned in Unit 2, what is likely true about coral biodiversity in the past 30 years?

(1 point)
Responses

Biodiversity has increased.
Biodiversity has increased.

Biodiversity has decreased.
Biodiversity has decreased.

Biodiversity has stayed the same.
Biodiversity has stayed the same.
Question 2
b. Study the graph above. If you had to make an educated guess, when is it most likely that a large bleaching event occurred? (1 point)
Responses

from 2011 to 2012
from 2011 to 2012

from 2014 to 2015
from 2014 to 2015

from 2016 to 2017
from 2016 to 2017

from 2019 to 2020
from 2019 to 2020
Question 3
c. Sally and Dewayne are very concerned about the decline in coral populations. They decide to make a poster to encourage people to help protect coral. All of the following statements are true. Which two facts would be most important to put on the poster?(2 points)
Important for the Poster Not Important for the Poster
The polyps of the great star coral are about as big as a human thumb.

About 14% of the world's coral has been lost since 2009.

The great star coral is also called Montastrea cavernosa.

Human-causes problems, like global warming and pollution, are very dangerous for coral.

Question 4
d. If threats like pollution, coral bleaching, and habitat loss continue to increase, which graph would most likely be best at predicting possible population changes for the great star coral in the future?(1 point)
Responses

Question 5
Many types of coral get their bright coloration from the algae that live in the coral. Think about what you learned in U2. Then complete the paragraph to explain the interactions between the coral and the algae.(3 points)
e. Coral and algae live together in a type of relationship called
. In this type of relationship,
will benefit. In this case, the algae
, and the coral
. Because the two organisms
, they could both
if the algae are ejected from the coral.​​​​​​​

Answer 1

Sure! Here are the answers to your questions based on the provided passage about coral:

Question 1
a. Given the information above and what you learned in Unit 2, what is likely true about coral biodiversity in the past 30 years?
Response: Biodiversity has decreased.

Question 2
b. Study the graph above. If you had to make an educated guess, when is it most likely that a large bleaching event occurred?
Response: from 2016 to 2017

Question 3
c. Sally and Dewayne are very concerned about the decline in coral populations. They decide to make a poster to encourage people to help protect coral. All of the following statements are true. Which two facts would be most important to put on the poster?
Important for the Poster:

• About 14% of the world's coral has been lost since 2009.
• Human-caused problems, like global warming and pollution, are very dangerous for coral.

Question 4
d. If threats like pollution, coral bleaching, and habitat loss continue to increase, which graph would most likely be best at predicting possible population changes for the great star coral in the future?
Response: The graph that shows a declining trend in great star coral populations would likely be best for future predictions, but without the graph, I cannot specify which one would be accurate.

Question 5
e. Coral and algae live together in a type of relationship called symbiosis. In this type of relationship, both organisms will benefit. In this case, the algae perform photosynthesis and produce nutrients, and the coral provides a protected environment and access to sunlight for the algae. Because the two organisms depend on each other, they could both suffer significant stress or decline if the algae are ejected from the coral.

Feel free to ask more questions if you need further clarifications!