Coral bleaching is the process by which corals expel their zooxanthellae, which they need to create energy to live. Bleaching can occur whenever a coral is stressed out by changes in temperatures, chemicals or other factors. After any bleaching event, it can be very hard for the coral to regrow and recover. Corals are also at risk because of lack of protection. Ships sometimes run into corals causing corals to break. Also, when diving or snorkeling you should never touch or bump into corals because this can damage them. Additionally, corals are at risk from ocean acidification, which happens when the ocean absorbs excess carbon dioxide from the air. This process increases the pH of the ocean and can make coral skeletons weak. Coral reefs house many of the world’s marine species meaning the destruction of coral reefs puts many marine species at risk.
