What happens to corals when temperatures rise too high?
Rising (or even falling) water temperatures can stress coral polyps, causing them to lose algae (or zooxanthellae) that live in the polpys' tissues. When conditions such as the temperature change, corals expel the symbiotic algae living in their tissues, responsible for their color. This show as bleaching in many corals.
Rising (or even falling) water temperatures can stress coral polyps, causing them to lose algae (or zooxanthellae) that live in the polpys' tissues. When conditions such as the temperature change, corals expel the symbiotic algae living in their tissues, responsible for their color. This show as bleaching in many corals.
