Note
Coral bleaching is the loss of symbiotic zooxanthellae and/ or the reduction
in photosynthetic pigment
concentrations in zooxanthellae residing
in coral tissue. Bleaching can
have a devastating effect on the reefbuilding
corals of the tropics, as it
reduces the rate of coral growth and
calcification, impairs coral reproduction,
increases susceptibility to
disease and, in the most severe cases,
can be fatal (Glynn, 1993).