Coral reefs can’t recover between bleaching anymore, report says

Coral reefs are no longer able to recover between bleaching episodes, according to a report highlighting the severe stresses facing marine ecosystems.^{[1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8]}

Environmental factors such as warming ocean waters and pollution cause the algae living on coral to leave. Because this algae serves as a major food source, its departure leaves the coral food-deprived and susceptible to disease, causing the coral to turn pale in the process known as bleaching.^{[1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8]}