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Resistance to Coral Bleaching

Image from the paper
Topic
  • Environmental Science
  • Conservation
  • Climate Change
  • Science Practices
  • Graph Interpretation
Resource Type
  • Activities
  • Data Points
Level
High School — GeneralHigh School — AP/IBCollege
Used In
1 BioInteractive Playlists
Favorited By
15 Users
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Description

This activity analyzes a published scientific figure from a study that tested whether corals can become more resistant to bleaching.

In this study, coral colonies of the species Acropora hyacinthus were moved from their original environments to either a moderately variable heat pool (MV, in blue) or a highly variable heat pool (HV, in red). After the corals spent a period of time in their new environments, they were exposed to heat stress. The figure shows each coral colony’s degree of resistance to bleaching, which is measured as the fraction of chlorophyll that remained in the corals after heat stress, compared to non-heat stressed controls.

The “Educator Materials” document includes a captioned figure, background information, graph interpretation, and discussion questions. The “Student Handout” includes a captioned figure and background information.

Student Learning Targets
  • Analyze and interpret data from a scientific figure. 
  • Explain how climate change may affect reefs through coral bleaching, and how corals may cope with temperature changes.
Details
Estimated Time
Within one 50-minute class period.
Key Terms

acclimation, algae, bar graph, chlorophyll, error bar, global warming, heat stress, marine biology, oceanography, reef

Primary Literature

Palumbi, Stephen R., Daniel J. Barshis, Nikki Traylor-Knowles, Rachael A. Bay. “Mechanisms of Reef Coral Resistance to Future Climate Change.” Science 344, 6186 (2014): 895–898. https://doi.org/10.1126/science.1251336.

To access this article, set up a free AAAS account. An annotated version of the article is also available from Science in the Classroom.

Terms of Use

Please see the Terms of Use for information on how this resource can be used.

Accessibility Level

The documents for this resource meet accessibility standards in accordance with the final rule for Section 508 of the National Rehabilitation Act.
Version History
Date Published 12.14.15
Date Updated 12.14.15
Curriculum Connections
NGSS (2013)

HS-LS2-7, HS-ESS3-4; SEP2, SEP4, SEP5

AP Biology (2019)

SYI-1.G, SYI-2.B, ENE-4.B; SP1, SP4

IB Biology (2016)

C.4

AP Environmental Science (2013)

VI.A, VII.C

IB Environmental Systems and Societies (2017)

4.4

Common Core (2010)

ELA.RST.9-12.7
Math.S-ID.3, Math.S-IC.1; MP2, MP5

Vision and Change (2009)

CC5; DP2, DP3

Materials
Image (JPG) 189 KB
Educator Materials (PDF) 1 MB
Student Handout (PDF) 970 KB
Image - Español (JPG) 138 KB
Educator Materials - Español (PDF) 654 KB
Student Handout - Español (PDF) 570 KB

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