Question

climate change and coral bleaching discussion questions

1. increased carbon dioxide (co²) impacts weather patterns creating more extreme temperatures. how does your body react to extreme changes in temperature (extreme heat and extreme cold)?
2. what impacts could temperature changes have on the ocean habitat of corals?
3. carbon dioxide is increasing in the atmosphere and the ocean. what effect does an increase in carbon dioxide have on the ocean?
4. based on the effect identified in question 3, how are carbonate - based organisms like corals affected by the increase in carbon dioxide in the ocean?
5. explain the relationship between climate change and the decline of coral reefs.

Explanation:

1. When exposed to extreme heat, the body sweats to cool down through evaporation, and blood vessels near the skin surface dilate to release heat. In extreme cold, blood vessels constrict to conserve heat, shivering occurs to generate heat through muscle contractions, and the body may experience hypothermia if exposed for too long.
2. Temperature changes can lead to coral bleaching. Higher - than - normal water temperatures cause corals to expel the symbiotic algae (zooxanthellae) living in their tissues, which provide them with food and color. This can lead to starvation and death of corals if the stress is prolonged.
3. An increase in carbon dioxide in the ocean causes ocean acidification. Carbon dioxide reacts with seawater to form carbonic acid, which dissociates into hydrogen ions and bicarbonate ions, increasing the acidity of the water.
4. The increase in ocean acidity due to higher carbon dioxide levels affects carbonate - based organisms like corals. It becomes more difficult for them to build and maintain their calcium carbonate skeletons as the availability of carbonate ions decreases in more acidic water, weakening their structures and making them more vulnerable.
5. Climate change, through factors such as rising sea temperatures, ocean acidification, and more extreme weather events, is a major cause of the decline of coral reefs. Rising sea temperatures lead to coral bleaching, ocean acidification weakens coral skeletons, and extreme weather can physically damage reefs.

Answer:

1. In extreme heat, sweating and vasodilation occur; in extreme cold, vasoconstriction, shivering, and risk of hypothermia.
2. Temperature changes can cause coral bleaching by expelling symbiotic algae.
3. It causes ocean acidification as carbon dioxide reacts with seawater to form carbonic acid.
4. It becomes harder for them to build and maintain calcium - carbonate skeletons due to reduced carbonate ion availability.
5. Climate change, via rising temperatures, acidification, and extreme weather, causes coral reef decline.