Photosynthetic single-celled dinoflagellates, called zooxanthellae, live within coral polyps.Zooxanthellae use CO₂ and nitrogenous wastes from the polyps to form oxygen and sugars, which in turn are used by both polyps and zooxanthellae for metabolism.As water temperatures warm, polyps eject their zooxanthellae, causing the coral to turn a bleached white.Corals slowly starve without zooxanthellae.As climate change causes warmer waters, we may expect to see a(n) _______ in corals as the number of zooxanthellae _______.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

As water temperatures warm, the zooxanthellae become stressed and begin to produce toxic compounds that are harmful to the coral polyps. In response, the polyps eject their zooxanthellae, leading to a decrease in the number of zooxanthellae and ultimately causing coral bleaching. As a result, we may expect to see a decrease in corals as the number of zooxanthellae decreases. Therefore, the correct choice is C.

Photosynthetic Single-Celled Dinoflagellates, Called Zooxanthellae, Live Within Coral Polyps