Skip to main content
HHMI BioInteractive
  • Español
  • Site Search
  • Log In/Create Account
  • BioInteractive Resources
  • Planning Tools
  • Professional Development
  • About Us

Resistance to Coral Bleaching

Image from the paper

Topic

  • Environmental Science
  • Conservation
  • Climate Change
  • Math & Computational Skills
  • Graph Interpretation

Resource Type

  • Activities
  • Data Points

Level

High School — GeneralHigh School — AP/IBCollege
Used In
1 BioInteractive Playlists
Saved By
25 Users
Share This
View in Spanish

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.

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 (WCAG compliance)

PDF files meet criteria.

Version History

Date Published 12.14.15
Date Updated 12.14.15

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 (2020)

Topic(s): 1.3, 8.2, 9.6, 2.6
Learning Objectives & Practices: ERT-1.C, STB-3.B, ERT-2.H, SP5, SP7

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

Explore Related Content

Other Resources About Coral

Showing of
Image from the activity
Labs & Demos
Ocean Acidification
Photo of bleached coral
Interactive Videos
Interactive Exploration of Coral Bleaching
Photo of bleached corals
Phenomenal Images
Stressed-Out Corals
Photo of bleached coral.
Lessons
Coral Reefs and Global Warming
3D animation of a bleached coral
Animations
Coral Bleaching
Image of coral from the film
Scientists at Work
Steve Palumbi & Megan Morikawa Study Coral Reef Damage in American Samoa

Other Related Resources

Showing of
Image of coral from the film
Scientists at Work
Steve Palumbi & Megan Morikawa Study Coral Reef Damage in American Samoa
Graph from the activity
Data Points
Tracking Global Changes in Forest Cover
Image of the Keeling curve from the activity
Data Points
Trends in Atmospheric Carbon Dioxide
Graph from the activity
Data Points
Salt Stress Impacts Photosynthesis in Algae
Image from the activity
Data Points
Using Genetic Evidence to Identify Ivory Poaching Hotspots
Graph from the activity
Data Points
Snail Fronts and Salt Marsh Die-Offs
Chart from the activity
Data Points
Habitat Size Impacts Arthropod Species
Graph from the paper
Data Points
Habitat Isolation Impacts Arthropod Species
Chart from the activity
Data Points
Habitat Fragmentation Impacts Arthropod Species
Graph showing the equilibrium point between immigration and extinction
Lessons
Exploring Island Biogeography through Data

This Resource Appears in the Following Playlists

Showing of
hhmi-card
Teaching an Online Introductory Biology Lab Using Evolution and Ecology Resources
Teaching an Online Introductory Biology Lab Using Evolution and Ecology Resources
20 Resources
By: BioInteractive
HHMI BioInteractive
  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Twitter
  • YouTube
  • Newsletter Signup
  • HHMI.org
  • Terms of Use
  • Privacy Policy
  • Accessibility