1. Coral Reef Bleaching
By: Sarah Barash

2. What is Coral Reef Bleaching?
Coral reef bleaching is caused by many factors but is basically when the coral is stressed and the coral expels the algae living in it

3. Why Is Coral Important? They shelter 25 percent of marine species
Protect shorelines
Support fishing industries
Tourist Attraction
Medical use
Biodiversity

4. Key Terms
Zooxanthellae- a photosynthetic algae that lives in coral and gives the coral its color. The coral and zooxanthellae have a mutualism relationship
Sedimentation- particles mixing with water

5. How It Is Caused
Reduction of photosynthetic pigment concentrations in zooxanthealle
sea temperature (too hot)
Sedimentation
Foreign chemicals and nutrients (fertilizers, purchased dirt, etc.)
Freshwater
Overfishing

6. Areas That Are Affected
Florida Keys
Caribbean
Gulf of Mexico
South Atlantic
Western Pacific

7. What Will Happen?
Climate Change: the ocean will no longer be able to handle the carbon emissions in the ocean because the zooxanthealle will be gone
Ocean Acidification: the extra CO2 has already begun to decreasing the ocean’s pH level
Fishing Impact: the healthy coral acts as a home for many commercial fish
Pollution: can cause disease and change the trophic structure

8. Sediment

9. Environmental Impact Trophic levels will be changed
Extreme human growth can cause over fishing bringing down biodiversity

10. How It Affects the Carbon Cycle

11. But You Can Help!
Reduce Greenhouse Gases because scientists already predict a 1.8ºF raise in water temperature in the next century already due to the emissions
Reduce, Reuse, Recycle- be mindful of where your waste and runoff go!

12. Works Cited

13. Picture Links
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