... can recover, therefore putting them in great danger. One of the largest causes of the destruction of the reefs is global warming, which has been increasing the temperature of the ocean water resulting in coral bleaching. Human-induced climate change has already led to substantial changes in a variety of ecosystems. Coral reefs are particularly vulnerable to rises in ocean temperature as a result of climate change because they already live near their thermal ... unicellular algae called zooxantheallae. Zooxanthellae are photosynthetic, and have a symbiotic relationship with the tissue of...

• Word Count: 729
• Approx Pages: 3
• Has Bibliography

... the loss of intracellular endosymbionts through either expulsion or loss of algal pigmentation. Zooxanthella is what gives coral reefs their apparent color. When bleaching takes place, the zooxanthellae is expelled by the reef, which makes the reef look white, like it has been bleached. Bleaching occurs when the coral reef feels as if it "under stress", the most common "stress" a coral can face is the rising of the water ... temperature although, there are a number of biotic and abiotic ... factors which can inflict "stress" upon the corals. Stress can occur when the oceans temperature ...

• Word Count: 641
• Approx Pages: 3
• Grade Level: Undergraduate