Coral Reef Bleaching

What is Coral Reef Bleaching?

Coral reef bleaching is when zooxanthellae, single-celled microscopic organisms that give corals their color, are released by the corals in an effort to control the amount it contains. This process is normal until too much zooxanthellae are released. The excessive amount released causes coral reefs to lose their color and die off.

Coral reef bleaching is occurring worldwide. It is occurring in places like Panama(70%), Mexico(40%), Puerto Rico, British Virgin Islands, Texas(35%-100%), and even more extensively in the Caribbean.

Hypothesis, Predictions and Experiments

There are many hypothesis that explain the cause of coral reef bleaching. Some of them are:

H1. Global Warming

Global warming causes water temperature to increase which causes corals to release their algae. This causes bleaching.

A. Predictions- Bleaching will occur in corals that are exposed to warmer water temperature

B. Experiments- control group =corals exposed to a healthy growing environment; experiment with various water temperatures to see at what temperature bleaching will occur. If bleaching occurs as water temperature increases then global warming is a cause of coral bleaching.

H2. Over-fishing and other fishing practices.

Over-fishing and other fishing practices exposes reefs to a stressful environment causing bleaching to occur. Fishers often use huge nets to catch more seafood. These nets cause reefs to break. In addition, over-fishing reduces the amount of sea creatures needed to maintain the healthy environment of the coral reefs.

A. Predictions- If I run a huge fishing net over a healthy population of corals reefs this will cause their environment to be stressed and bleaching will occur.

B. Experiments- Perform experiment in a healthy coral environment. Run a huge net over this population of corals. Also, eliminate most of the sea creatures vital to the maintenance of the coral reefs. If over-fishing and other fishing practices are a cause bleaching will occur.

H3. Acidification