Question

Which of the following statements about coral reefs is correct?

a) More reefs are developing as the oceans get warmer
b) As time passes, seamounts emerge from the sea, and atolls
become fringing reefs
c) Large areas of existing reefs have been dying off due to bleaching
and various coral diseases
d) The coral making reefs is a species of algae that secretes a
siliceous shell

Answer 1

The correct statement about coral reefs is that large areas are dying due to bleaching and diseases, caused by rising ocean temperatures and acidification affecting their calcification process.

Step-by-step explanation:

Among the listed statements about coral reefs, the correct one is: c) Large areas of existing reefs have been dying off due to bleaching and various coral diseases. As ocean temperatures rise due to climate change, coral bleaching occurs when the coral expel their symbiotic algae, which is crucial for their survival. This results in the coral losing color and vitality.

This environmental stress leads to a reduction in species diversity and has negative impacts on ecosystems and local economies dependent on coral reefs. Due to rising temperature, coral reefs lose their symbiotic partner, the algae, in the process called bleaching. Rising CO₂ changes the pH of water, which interferes with calcification. Animals whose source of food is coral reefs also decline in numbers.