The process where corals expel their symbiotic algae due to stress, causing them to turn white and potentially die. Coral bleaching is primarily caused by rising water temperatures from climate change.
From Old English 'blǣcan' meaning 'to make pale or white'. In the coral context, the term emerged in marine biology during the 1980s as scientists observed corals turning white during heat stress events.
Coral bleaching is like a fever response - when water gets too hot, corals kick out their colorful algae partners in desperation, but without these algae providing food through photosynthesis, the corals can starve! Mass bleaching events are becoming more frequent and severe, threatening entire reef ecosystems.
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