Coral Reef Destruction (June. 2014) | Page 4

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CORAL REEF DESTRUCTION CAUSED BY GLOBAL WARMING WARMING

Coral reefs naturally deteriorate, but because of global warming the damage is becoming greater. Coral bleaching is a large concern; it is when the coral becomes so damaged that it expels its symbiotic zooxanthellea, which provides nutrients for the coral through photosynthesis. When this happens the coral turns white and becomes very stressed and vulnerable to bacteria. Coral bleaching is a result of a number of factors. It can occur if water temperature increases/decreases outside of corals preferred range, tide-emersion (when coral is exposed to too much direct sunlight) and ocean acidification.11 Also increased carbon dioxide levels have adverse effects on coral. As ppms of carbon dioxide in water rises, it dissolves the coral skeleton making it weak and even more vulnerable to bacteria and human destruction.6