Zeitschrift für Meeresbiologie und Ozeanographie

A comparison of bleached and unbleached corals

Alexa Smith

Coral reefs are symbiotic organisms where coral animal cells build homes for algae which give them energy and help in creating their colors. The figure indicates unbleached (left) and beached coral (right). Bleaching of coral leads to loss of algae leaving behind skeletons that are susceptible to death and disease.