Lesson #10:

Coral Bleaching

Learning Target

Students will be able to explain how human activities cause acid rain, how it affects ecosystems, and how solutions can reduce its impact.

Standards

HS-LS2-7.

Design, evaluate, and refine a solution for reducing the impacts of human activities on the environment and biodiversity

Reminders

Test Thursday, November 5th on Lessons 1-10
Check Grades - email us if you have questions - mpinho3@schools.nyc.gov and aangarola@schools.nyc.gov

Part 1:

Peer Review Check for Understanding

(8 min)

Warm-Up Directions:

Take out your homework.
Exchange papers with a partner.
Read your partner’s response carefully.
Complete the peer review at the bottom of your partner’s sheet.
Return the paper and explain your feedback.
Use your partner’s feedback to improve your answer.

Part 2:

Slow Reveal Graph

(8 min)

Slow Reveal Acid Rain

Part 3

Check for Understanding #2

Coral Reefs

Coral reefs provide a home for many species, supporting more species per unit area than any other marine environment. They protect coastlines from storms and erosion, provide food, and may supply new medicines. Reef tourism, diving, and snorkeling bring hundreds of millions of dollars to local businesses.

Most coral reefs face stress from several factors. Since 1980, repeated coral bleaching events have occurred. Stressed coral turns white and may recover, but continued stress can kill it.

One of the longest and most destructive bleaching events, from 2014–2017, damaged over 70% of the world’s coral reefs. Biologists report that 90% of coral in Florida’s reefs and Australia’s Great Barrier Reef has been affected in recent decades.

Which claim best describes the interactions in the coral reef ecosystem since the 1980s and the effect on the biodiversity in those regions?

A. The coral reef ecosystem was stable, so the biodiversity was reduced since reefs can support thousands of species of fish.

B. The reef ecosystem is not stable, so the biodiversity remained relatively constant without altering the variety of corals.

C. The reef ecosystem was stable, so the biodiversity remained relatively constant and it would continue to attract divers and tourists.

D. The coral reef ecosystem was not stable, so the biodiversity was reduced and it may have an impact on the number of tourists visiting the reef.

Part 3

Get the Gist

Graphic Organizer

(10 min)

Coral_Bleaching_Article_and_Organizer.pdf

Part 4:

CFU #3

Scientists observed that prolonged increases in ocean temperature caused corals to lose the algae living in their tissues. Over time, many corals died, and populations of several fish species decreased.

Which statement best explains how warmer ocean water led to the decrease in fish populations?

A. Warmer water caused corals to release more food, increasing competition among fish.

B. The loss of algae reduced the corals’ food supply, leading to coral death and loss of habitat for fish.

C. The loss of algae increased photosynthesis in corals, reducing the amount of oxygen available to fish.

D. Warmer water caused fish to depend on carbon dioxide instead of oxygen for survival.

Part 5

Recap

(2 min)

Learning Target

Students will be able to explain how human activities cause acid rain, how it affects ecosystems, and how solutions can reduce its impact.

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