coral 101
What is a coral reef made of?
Tiny animals called polyps
What kind of sunscreen is safer for coral reefs?
Reef-safe sunscreen
What is the main cause of coral bleaching?
Rising ocean temperatures.
True or False: Coral reefs are made of plants.
❌ False — They’re made of tiny animals called polyps.
What colorful fish from a popular movie lives in coral reefs?
Clownfish
What do corals need to survive and grow?
Warm, shallow, clean water and sunlight.
What is one simple thing people can do at home to help protect coral reefs?
Reduce electricity use or recycle to lower carbon emissions.
What happens to coral when it gets stressed by heat?
It expels the algae (zooxanthellae) living inside it, causing it to turn white.
True or False: Coral bleaching always kills coral reefs immediately.
❌ False — Bleaching stresses corals, but they can recover if conditions improve.
True or False: Many species use coral reefs for shelter and protection.
✅ True — Coral reefs are like underwater cities for marine life.
What role do coral reefs play in marine ecosystems?
They provide food, shelter, and breeding grounds for many marine species.
What kind of runoff should we prevent in order to stop coral bleaching?
Fertilizer run off
What role do zooxanthellae play in coral health?
They provide food and color to the coral through photosynthesis.
True or False: Coral reefs cover more than 10% of the ocean floor.
❌ False — They cover less than 1%, but support about 25% of marine life.
Name one larger marine animal that relies on coral reefs for part of its life.
Sea turtles, sharks, or groupers.
Why are coral reefs often called “the rainforests of the sea”?
Because they support a huge amount of biodiversity, just like rainforests on land.
What are ways we can reduce our carbon footprint?
Using electric cars, public transportation, and bikes
Besides heat, name one other cause of coral bleaching.
Pollution, changes in ocean acidity, too much sunlight, or overexposure to UV rays.
True or False: Using regular sunscreen in the ocean can harm coral reefs.
✅ True — Some sunscreen ingredients are toxic to coral.
How does coral bleaching affect fish that live in reefs?
It destroys their habitat, making it harder to find food and shelter.
Coral polyps have a symbiotic relationship with what organism that helps them get energy through photosynthesis?
Zooxanthellae
Name one global organization or project that works to restore coral reefs.
Coral Restoration Foundation, WWF (World Wildlife Fund), NOAA Coral Reef Conservation Program, etc.
Why does climate change lead to more frequent coral bleaching events?
Because greenhouse gases trap heat in the atmosphere, warming the oceans and causing long-term temperature stress on corals.
True or False: Coral reefs only exist in tropical waters near the surface.
❌ False — Most do, but there are also deep-sea cold-water coral reefs.
Coral reefs support approximately what percentage of all marine species?
About 25%.