Environmental issues with coral reefs

High school (ages 12+)
Environment & Earth

Name:

Date:

Step 1 · Read the article

Open the article and read it at the level above. Then answer the questions below in your own words.

https://smallwhale.org/articles/environmental-issues-with-coral-reefs

Write what each word means, using the article.

Do not copy the article. Write two things you learned, the way you would explain them to a friend.

Answers below are taken from the article’s stored facts, so they match what the student read.

1. What is the scientific name?Scleractinia (stony corals)
2. What is the habitat?Tropical and subtropical oceans, typically in shallow, clear, warm waters (20-28°C)
3. What are coral reefs and why are they important?Coral reefs are underwater cities made by tiny animals called stony corals. They support about 25% of all marine life, protect coastlines, and help local economies through fishing and tourism.
4. How do corals get their colors and food?Corals host tiny algae inside their tissues that photosynthesize. These algae give the coral its bright colors and provide the coral with nutrients and energy.

Zooxanthellae: Microscopic algae living symbiotically within coral tissues, essential for coral nutrition and color.
Anthropogenic: Originating from human activity.
Ocean Carbon Sink: The ocean's capacity to absorb and store carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.