What causes coral bleaching?(1 point)

Question

Responses

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 and high water temperatures make coral polyps more prone to infection, 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.

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.

High water temperatures and water acidity cause coral polyps to expel algae, causing them to turn white in color.

Answer 1

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 experience stress from environmental factors like increased water temperatures or changes in water chemistry (pH levels). In response to this stress, coral polyps expel the symbiotic algae (zooxanthellae) that live within their tissues, which provide them with food through photosynthesis and give them their color. When these algae are expelled, the corals turn white, resulting in bleaching.