Coral Bleaching
Coral bleaching happens when coral polyps, the animals that build corals, shed the algae (zooxanthellae) that give them their color, and which are necessary for their survival. The coral is then white in appearance. Coral scientists are not sure what causes coral bleaching, but warming water is the most likely culprit. Corals in the Caribbean and Florida have bleached when sea surface temperatures rose and were higher than the mean sea surface temperature for as little as one month.
Students observed a demonstration that showcased the cause of coral bleaching. Mrs. Keck filled a plastic glove with water and froze it. The ice hand served as the coral polyp, the fingers were their tentacles, the whipped cream is the limestone skeleton, and finally the sprinkles were the zooxanthellae. As the coral polyp sat in the heat of the room, the sprinkles began to melt off, leaving a white coral polyp. Below are pictures of the demonstration.
Students observed a demonstration that showcased the cause of coral bleaching. Mrs. Keck filled a plastic glove with water and froze it. The ice hand served as the coral polyp, the fingers were their tentacles, the whipped cream is the limestone skeleton, and finally the sprinkles were the zooxanthellae. As the coral polyp sat in the heat of the room, the sprinkles began to melt off, leaving a white coral polyp. Below are pictures of the demonstration.