When corals are stressed by environmental conditions, they expel their dinoflagellates in a process called bleaching. How is widespread bleaching likely to affect coral reefs?

 

Corals are association of animal( zoo-xanthallae) and plant(Dinoflagellates). Dinoflagellates provides oxygen, nutrients and color to coral.

Step-by-step explanation

When corals are stressed by environmental conditions, they expel their dinoflagellates. This is called coral bleaching.

Due to coral bleaching following effects can occur on coral reefs-

• Because dinoflagellates provide color, coral reefs become white.
• Reduced growth rate as oxygen and nutrients are provided by dinoflagellates.
• Reproductive capacity decreases.
• Susceptibility to diseases increases.
• Thus, Mortality rate increases.