Coral BleachingCreated By: Melissa Brown

Background Info on Coral ReefsWhere do you find

coral reefs?Coral reefs are

found in shallow tropical waters along the shores of islands and continents.

Corals live in very nutrient poor waters Sensitive to water

temperature, salinity, UV radiation, and nutrient quantities

Coral Reefs and ZooxanthellaeCorals and Zooxanthellae (algae) have a symbiotic relationshipMost coral depend on these algae to stay healthy

The algae give the coral foodThe Corals give the algae a place to live.When the corals catch prey, the prey provide nitrogen for the

corals and then the corals pass some to the algae.What is this relationship called?

Mutualism!!!!!!

What is Coral Bleaching?When coral expel the algae that live

symbiotically with them Weakens the coral – could lead to die offs

• Anything that affects the coral's ability to supply the zooxanthellae with nutrients for photosynthesis will cause the algae to be expelled.

*When the algae leave, they cause the coral to loose

its color*

Causes of bleachingSedimentation

High particle levels in rivers float into the ocean and cloud the water NOT allowing photosynthesis to happen.

Carbon Dioxide•Carbon Dioxide-

• Corals in waters with large amounts of carbon dioxide form weaker skeletons

• Why is there carbon dioxide in the atmosphere?• Burning fossil fuels

• This makes them more vulnerable to damage from waves, careless tourists, and destructive fishers.

Ocean Warming• As the ocean warms up, it causes the algae to leave the coral

Effects on other organismsoCoral reefs are the base for most food

chains in the ocean.o The fish populations that used the coral as

a habitat would be vulnerable to predators.

The Great Barrier Reef

• Where is it?• Coral Sea, off the coast

of Australia • Main cause of

bleaching?1. Ocean warming2. Chemical runoffo runoff of nitrogen-

based pesticides from local farming areas 

4 Steps to prevent bleaching Recycle. Slow climate changeDon't use chemically

enhanced pesticides and fertilizers

Conserve water. The less water you use, the less runoff and waste water that eventually finds its way back into the ocean.http

://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aEdoizgeNJk&feature=player_detailpage

Works Cited…

www.marinebiology.org/coralbleaching oceanservice.noaa.gov www.blue-oceans.com