Question

Despite a lot of other evidence that increasing ocean temperature triggers coral bleaching, in the experiment on the great barrier reef (gbr) water, temperature did not appear to be the critical factor. why was temperature not a major cause of coral bleaching in this experiment?

Answer 1

In the experiment on the Great Barrier Reef, factors such as water quality, algal overgrowth, and changes in predator-prey dynamics may have had a more significant impact on coral bleaching than temperature.

Step-by-step explanation:

Temperature is often a major factor in coral bleaching events, as warmer waters can cause corals to expel their life-sustaining algae, known as zooxanthellae. However, in the experiment on the Great Barrier Reef, other factors such as water quality and algal overgrowth might have played a more crucial role, overshadowing the impact of temperature.

Runoff containing sediments and agricultural chemicals could lead to cloudy waters, affecting the ability of coral reefs to access sunlight, which is critical for their survival. Likewise, overfishing can disrupt the ecological balance, allowing predator species that consume corals to thrive. These elements might have contributed significantly to the coral bleaching observed in the experiment, demonstrating that while temperature increase is a known threat, it is not the solitary factor causing damage to coral systems.