Climate Change and Coral Disease

Imagine serving as a habitat, food source, physical entity, economy, and more for others while being an animal yourself! That is exactly what hermatypic corals do. So it's no wonder that their health inevitably determines the fate of other organisms' in the reef system and beyond.

By the end, you will learn the answers to these questions:

· What is a coral and what are its traits?
· Is the ocean's chemistry changing and how does this affect coral reef systems?
· Is the ocean's temperature increasing and how does this affect coral reef systems?
· Are corals becoming more susceptible to disease?
· How does disease affect coral diversity?
· How are other organisms in the reef system affected?
· Is their possibility for recovery, resistance, or adaptation?
· Why should I care?
· If I care, what can I do to help?