Coral reefs have the highest biodiversity of any marine ecosystem on Earth. Hundreds of plant and animal species live in close a
ssociation with the coral in these reefs and depend on them for survival. In recent years, global climate changes have slowly begun to increase the temperatures of the ocean. Coral are very sensitive to temperature changes—even an increase of 0.5°C can cause them to bleach and die.
A scientist is making a graph to predict how the biodiversity of coral reefs will change if global temperatures continue to increase. This graph will most likely show
A.
that the diverse species of the coral reef will move from marine ecosystems into land ecosystems.
B.
that the biodiversity of the coral reefs will decrease if global temperatures continue to increase.
C.
that the biodiversity of the coral reefs will not change if global temperatures continue to increase.
D.
that the biodiversity of the coral reefs will increase if global temperatures continue to increase.
that the biodiversity of the coral reefs will decrease if global temperatures continue to increase.
Explanation:
Coral reefs are believed by many to have the highest biodiversity of any ecosystem on the planet—even more than a tropical rainforest. Occupying less than one percent of the ocean floor, coral reefs are home to more than twenty-five percent of marine life.
