Question
What causes coral bleaching?
A. water acidity and high water temperatures make coral polyps more prone to infection, causing them to turn white in color.
B. high water temperatures and water acidity cause coral polyps to expel algae, causing them to turn white in color
C. High water temperature boil coral polyps causing them to turn white in color
D. water acidity causes coral polyps to lose their photosynthetic abilities, causing them to turn white in color
A. water acidity and high water temperatures make coral polyps more prone to infection, causing them to turn white in color.
B. high water temperatures and water acidity cause coral polyps to expel algae, causing them to turn white in color
C. High water temperature boil coral polyps causing them to turn white in color
D. water acidity causes coral polyps to lose their photosynthetic abilities, causing them to turn white in color
Answers
GPT-4o mini
The correct answer is:
**B. high water temperatures and water acidity cause coral polyps to expel algae, causing them to turn white in color.**
Coral bleaching occurs when corals become stressed due to increased water temperatures, pollution, or changes in water chemistry, leading them to expel the symbiotic algae (zooxanthellae) that live in their tissues. These algae provide corals with food through photosynthesis and give them their color. When the algae are expelled, the coral turns white (bleaches) and can become more susceptible to disease and mortality.
**B. high water temperatures and water acidity cause coral polyps to expel algae, causing them to turn white in color.**
Coral bleaching occurs when corals become stressed due to increased water temperatures, pollution, or changes in water chemistry, leading them to expel the symbiotic algae (zooxanthellae) that live in their tissues. These algae provide corals with food through photosynthesis and give them their color. When the algae are expelled, the coral turns white (bleaches) and can become more susceptible to disease and mortality.