CORAL BLEACHING

Corals share a symbiotic relationship with tiny marine algae, which produce carbohydrates for the coral and themselves to eat, through the process of photosynthesis. When the coral is stressed from warmer than usual sea temperatures, the algae are rejected and the coral turns white. If temperatures remain too high for a prolonged period of time, the coral can’t feed itself efficiently and eventually dies, allowing algae to grow over the skeleton.