Reef organisms are being studied for potential treatments for cancer, HIV, and cardiovascular diseases. 3. Primary Threats to Coral Health
The complexity of coral structures provides niche habitats for thousands of organisms.
Rising Sea Surface Temperatures (SST) lead to the breakdown of the coral-algal symbiosis. When temperatures exceed a coral's threshold for a prolonged period, the zooxanthellae are expelled, leaving the white calcium carbonate skeleton visible—a process known as bleaching. 3.2 Ocean Acidification Increased atmospheric CO2cap C cap O sub 2