Question

According to the information in BOTH passages, what is the relationship between coral reefs and chemicals people put down their drains?

A) Coral reefs are not affected by chemicals in drain water.
B) Coral reefs are positively impacted by chemicals in drain water.
C) Coral reefs are negatively impacted by chemicals in drain water.
D) Coral reefs and drain water chemicals have no relationship.

Answer 1

Coral reefs are negatively affected by chemicals in drain water, which contribute to oceanic acidification and alter seawater composition, leading to coral bleaching and impacting marine ecosystems.

Step-by-step explanation:

According to the information in both passages, coral reefs are negatively impacted by chemicals people put down their drains. These chemicals can include agricultural runoff and other pollutants that alter the chemical composition of seawater, contributing to oceanic acidification. This acidification affects coral reefs significantly because their exoskeletons, made of calcium carbonate, can dissolve in acidic conditions. Additionally, ocean acidification and increased temperature lead to coral bleaching, where corals lose their symbiotic algae, and CO₂ changes impact the pH of the water, further interfering with skeletal calcification. This has a cascade effect on the ecosystem, as animals depending on the reefs for food also decline.