SCIENTIFIC LITERACY/ SCIENCE AND PEOPLE.

Question

CORAL BLEACHING OCCURS WHEN CORAL BECOMES STRESSED AND EXPELS THE ALGAE THAT THEY CONTAIN. ACCORDING TO SCIENTISTS, WHAT STEPS CAN SOCIETY TAKE TO FIX CORAL BLEACHING?
1. SCIENTISTS HAVE CONCLUDED THAT SOCIETY CAN ONLY FIX CORAL BLEACHING BY STOPPING CLIMATE CHANGE ENTIRELY.
2. SCIENTISTS HAVE CONCLUDED THAT SOCIETY CAN FIX CORAL BLEACHING BY REDUCING STRESSORS, SUCH AS SEDIMENTATION AND POLLUTION.
3. SCIENTISTS HAVE CONCLUDED THAT SOCIETY CAN FIX CORAL BLEACHING BY REDUCING STRESSORS, SUCH SEDIMENTATION AND POLLUTION, AND LIMITING CLIMATE CHANGE.
4. SCIENTISTS HAVE CONCLUDED THAT SOCIETY CAN ONLY FIX CORAL BLEACHING BY CONTROLLING OCEAN TEMPERATURES BY REDUCING GREENHOUSE GAS EMISSIONS.

Answer 1

The most comprehensive conclusion among the options provided is:

3. Scientists have concluded that society can fix coral bleaching by reducing stressors, such as sedimentation and pollution, and limiting climate change.

This option recognizes that addressing coral bleaching requires multiple approaches, including both mitigating local stressors (like pollution and sedimentation) and addressing global challenges (like climate change and greenhouse gas emissions). Coral reefs face a variety of threats that need to be managed simultaneously in order to enhance their resilience and improve their chances of recovery.