Question 1
Multiple choiceEasy1 markA reef exposed to a period of higher-than-usual seawater temperatures shows loss of colour in its corals. Which climate-change effect does this indicate?
Show answer and explanation
Answer: A. Increased water temperature is a cause of coral bleaching.
B: Confuses the effect of warming with ocean acidification, which is caused by increased carbon dioxide. C: Selects suppressed calcification, which is associated with increased carbon dioxide rather than warming. D: Gives an ecosystem-level consequence of coral loss, not the effect indicated here. Remember: warming causes bleaching; increased carbon dioxide causes ocean acidification and suppresses calcification.