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The worlds beautiful coral reefs are dying due to<br />
the stresses of climate change. The rise in ocean<br />
temperatures triggers coral bleaching and ocean<br />
acidification, making it hard for coral to build shells<br />
and skeletons.<br />
Corals’ stunning coloration emanates from symbiotic algae,<br />
which also nourish them. When rising<br />
ocean temperatures or ultraviolet<br />
light stress the corals, they lose their<br />
colorful algae, leaving only transparent<br />
tissue covering their white calciumcarbonate<br />
skeletons. If the stresses<br />
are sustained, the corals die. Even<br />
small increases in water temperature<br />
can cause coral bleaching.<br />
The intensity and<br />
frequency of coral<br />
bleaching has increased<br />
significantly over the<br />
past 30 years, causing<br />
death or severe<br />
damage to one-third of<br />
the world’s corals.<br />
Since 1950, global mean sea surface temperatures have risen<br />
roughly 1° F (0.6° C) which is enough to cause widespread<br />
damage to coral reefs. The intensity and frequency of coral<br />
bleaching has increased significantly over the past 30 years,<br />
causing death or severe damage to one-third of the world’s<br />
corals.<br />
The second largest coral reef system in<br />
South-East Asia is situated in Philippine<br />
waters shrouding 10,000 square miles<br />
(26,000 square kilometers) of the<br />
Philippines coast. Covering 67,877<br />
acres off the coast of Mindoro is the<br />
Apo Coral Reef which is the world’s<br />
largest continuous reef behind<br />
Australia’s Great Barrier Reef. The reefs<br />
coralreef.noaa.gov<br />
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