Coral Bleaching
Loss of algal symbionts from coral tissue causing whiteness and potential coral death under thermal stress.
Real World
In 2016–2017, back-to-back marine heatwaves bleached over 50% of the Great Barrier Reef's corals, with northern sections losing two-thirds of shallow-water corals within nine months.
Exam Focus
Always link bleaching to a named cause (e.g. El Niño, rising SSTs) and distinguish between reversible bleaching and permanent mortality.
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