File name: bleachedcoral2.jpg
Original Resolution: 2560 × 1920
File Size: 6095 KB (MIME Type: image/jpeg)
Microscopic algae inhabit coral polyps and give healthy corals, like these in the Virgin Islands (left), their vibrant colors. A prolonged temperature increase as small as 1°C can result in bleaching and possible death. The photo on the right shows a bleached elkhorn coral that has lost its distinctive colors.