Unusually Warm Waters in the Caribbean Caused Mass Coral Bleaching

Unusually warm waters in the Caribbean caused mass coral bleaching events in 1998, 2005, and 2014-2016 (an unprecedented 3-year barrage of record-breaking temperatures) .As many as 80-90 percent of corals were damaged, many died, and more are expected to die.Temperature spikes during these years occurred because of El Niño effects, but the bleaching and its devastating effects on coral were likely worsened by ongoing

A) natural predation loss.
B) overharvesting.
C) habitat loss and degradation.
D) climate change.
E) vandalism of reefs by humans.