What causes coral bleaching?(1 point)
Responses
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.
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.
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.
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 become stressed, often due to elevated water temperatures, and expel the symbiotic algae (zooxanthellae) that live in their tissues. This loss of algae, which provide color and nutrients through photosynthesis, results in the coral turning white.
