Introduction to Marine Biology

What is Coral Bleaching QUIZ

Due April 14, 2026 at 9:00 AM · 5 multiple-choice questions · Practice quiz

1. On reefs, “coral bleaching” usually describes: Corals spontaneously turning into jellyfish Stress that disrupts corals and their symbiotic algae (often visibly paler) Sand dunes burying the shoreline only Healthy seasonal spawning color

2. Zooxanthellae primarily benefit the coral host by: Consuming all coral tissue overnight Providing carbon-rich compounds from photosynthesis Blocking sunlight entirely Replacing the coral skeleton with rubber

3. Mass bleaching events are most commonly tied to: A single minute of cold fog Long stretches of unusually warm seawater Student laptops near the reef Monthly lunar eclipses alone

4. After bleaching, corals may recover when: Bleaching always kills every polyp within minutes Stress drops while tissue is still alive so symbiosis can rebuild Colonies are permanently soaked in freshwater All tentacles are clipped off for aesthetics

5. Bleaching matters for reef ecosystems because: It guarantees larger tuna catches everywhere overnight Reef limestone evaporates into the air Many species depend on living coral for habitat and energy pathways Coral polyps stop being animals after one hot day