Corals:

Question 1

What are the proximate reasons for synchornous spawning in corals?

Answer 1

Environmental cues: largest month to month increase in sea surface temperture and intermediate wind speeds

Question 2

What are the ultimate reasons for synchornous spawning in corals?

Answer 2

• ensuring maximum chances for egg and sperm to come into contact with each other
• incerases the probability of successful fertilisation due to high gamete concentration

Question 3

Describe what coral bleaching is and the four environmental conditions that can lead to it:

Answer 3

Coral bleaching occurs when corals expel zooxanthellae from their tissue, which can eventually lead to the death of the coral if it is not recolonised.
Four conditions:
- Increasing ocean temperatures
- Ocean acidification
- Pollution
- Excessive light exposure