Question

What causes coral bleaching?(1 point)

Water acidity and high water temperatures make coral polyps more prone to infection, causing them to turn white in color.

High water temperatures boil coral polyps, 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.

Water acidity causes coral polyps to lose their photosynthetic abilities, causing them to turn white in color.

Answer 1

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

Explanation: Stressors like elevated temperature and acidification make corals expel their symbiotic algae (zooxanthellae), which remove the coral’s color and main energy source.