Question

Why is it unsurprising that coral bleaching can occur with cold water as well as warm? Choose the most appropriate option:

A) Corals are highly sensitive organisms that can be affected by even slight changes in water temperature.
B) Cold water contains less oxygen, which can lead to stress and bleaching in corals.
C) Both warm and cold water can disrupt the symbiotic relationship between corals and their algae, causing bleaching.
D) Corals have adapted to survive in a specific temperature range, and any deviation can trigger bleaching.
E) Environmental factors such as pollution and nutrient runoff can contribute to coral bleaching regardless of water temperature.

Answer 1

Coral bleaching can occur in both warm and cold water because it disrupts the symbiotic relationship between corals and their algae. Option C accurately describes that corals are sensitive to temperature changes that affect this balance, leading to bleaching.

Step-by-step explanation:

It is unsurprising that coral bleaching can occur with cold water as well as warm because corals are highly specialized organisms that thrive within a certain temperature range. Any significant deviation from their optimal temperature can adversely affect their health.

The most accurate option that explains why coral bleaching can occur in both warm and cold water is:

C) Both warm and cold water can disrupt the symbiotic relationship between corals and their algae, causing bleaching.

Corals maintain a delicate symbiotic relationship with zooxanthellae algae, which are essential for providing nutrients through photosynthesis. This relationship is sensitive to changes in ocean water temperature. Excessively warm water, as a result of climate change and human activities, has been known to cause corals to expel these algae in a process known as bleaching.

Moreover, cold water can similarly stress corals and disrupt this symbiosis, leading to the same bleaching effect. Coral bleaching not only diminishes the vibrant colors of the reefs but can also lead to the death of the coral animal if the loss of symbiotic algae is prolonged, reducing biodiversity, productivity, and the myriad of ecosystem services that healthy coral reefs provide.