Crisis on coral reefs linked to climate change

摘要: Since 1982, coral reefs worldwide have been subjected to an increased frequency of the phenomenon known as bleaching. Bleaching involves dramatic loss pigmented, single-celled endosymbiotic algae that live within gastrodermal cells a host depends on this relationship for survival. Prior 1980s, and early 1920s when reef research intensified, localized bleaching events were reported attributed factors such extremely low tides, hurricane damage, torrential rainstorms, freshwater runoff near reefs, or toxic algal blooms [Glynn, 1993]. However, these occurrences recently overshadowed by geographically larger more frequent whose impact has expanded regional global proportions.