Coral Bleaching

{
  "id": "MLC-T-ENV-006680",
  "term": "Coral Bleaching",
  "field": "Environment",
  "definition": "1. The process that takes place when corals lose the microscopic organisms called algae that live within their tissues. These algae provide the coral with nutrients, and they're responsible for the color of the coral. If a disturbance such as rising water temperature causes the algae to leave, corals will appear white (or bleached) and could eventually die.\n\n2. The process in which a coral colony, under environmental stress expels the microscopic algae (zooxanthellae) that live in symbiosis with their host organisms (polyps). The affected coral colony appears whitened.\n\n3. The process in which a coral polyp, under environmental stress, expels its symbiotic zooxanthellae from its body.\n\n4. Environmental stress indicator for coral. if conditions for corals are not optimum. the corals will expel the algae that live among the living polyps. therefore giving the colony a bleached appearance.",
  "subject": "Climate change",
  "references": [
    "Student's Guide to Global Climate Change",
    "Glossary of Climate Change Terms",
    "NOAA Coral Reef Glossary",
    "NOAA Climate Program Office Glossary"
  ],
  "url": "https://mlchart.com/terminology/environment/coral-bleaching/"
}