illustration showing close-up of the surface of coral as it ejects its algae
Kaleidoscopic corals turn pale when their cells eject the algae that lives on their surfaces—a process called coral bleaching. [Read more.]. Fabian de Kok-Mercado, Satoshi Amagai, Mark Nielsen, Dennis Liu, and Steve Palumbi
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Corals are a quirky species—they’re invertebrate animals built out of genetically identical polyps, which collect together into massive underwater reef structures. For food, they rely on a symbiotic relationship with algae, which make sugar and nutrients through photosynthesis. This video, created by a team at the Howard Hughes Medical Institute, envisions a reef seen from miles above the planet. Then, it zooms in to the microscopic structures where the algae live. The animation details how rising ocean temperatures can prompt coral to eject the algae—a process known as coral bleaching. Without their symbiotic partners, bleached coral slowly die.

“Coral Bleaching: A Breakdown of Symbiosis” won the Expert’s and People’s Choice awards for Video in the 2016 Vizzies. See all 10 of the winners.

This article was originally published in the March/April 2016 issue of Popular Science, under the title “The 2016 Vizzies.”

Climate Change
Conservation
Ocean
Videos