About

This animation zooms in on a coral reef to explore the tiny animals that build reefs, the photosynthetic algae inside their cells, and the damaging process of coral bleaching. The added information provided at pause points within the animation allows for a richer exploration of these and related topics.

A version of this animation without pause points is available to stream or download at: https://www.biointeractive.org/classroom-resources/coral-bleaching

Credits

Producers

Esther Shyu, HHMI
Fabian de Kok-Mercado, HHMI
Sandra Blumenrath

Original Concept

Ann Brokaw, Rocky River High School, OH
Cheryl Hollinger, Lewis & Clark College, OR
Helen Snodgrass, YES Prep Public Schools, TX
Valerie May, Woodstock Academy, CT

Reviewers

Jill Harris, Scripps Institution of Oceanography/World Wildlife Fund (former)
Laura Bonetta, HHMI
Mark Nielsen, HHMI
Sue Dodge
Melissa Haswell, Davenport University, MI

Writing and Editing

Esther Shyu, HHMI

UI/UX Design and Development

Bill Pietsch, A3MG
Davey Thomas, A3MG

Animations and Videos

Produced by BioInteractive:

• Coral Bleaching
• Steve Palumbi & Megan Morikawa Study Coral Reef Damage in American Samoa
• Photosynthesis

Illustrations

Heather MacDonald
Davey Thomas, A3MG

Creative/Art Direction

Fabian de Kok-Mercado, HHMI

Photographs and Microscopy

The following photographs are used under CC BY. The versions used here may have been cropped from the originals.

• “Telmatactis cricoides y Enoplometopus antillensis” by Philippe Guillaume
• “Stoplight parrotfish Sparisoma viride” by Paul Asman and Jill Lenoble
• “Condylactis gigantea (giant Caribbean sea anemone)” by James St. John
• “Holothuria edulis1” by François Michonneau
• “Christmas Tree Worm (Spirobranchus giganteus)” by Kris-Mikael Krister
• “Great Barrier Reef” by I.DeSouza
• “rainbow beach” by texaus1
• “Tabarka, décembre 2014” by Habib M’henni
• “Cat scratching” by Vannie
• “Symbiodinium kawagutii” by Liti Haramaty
• “Keppelbleaching” by Acropora
• “Bleached Coral” by Samuel Chow

All other photographs used are from BioInteractive or under public domain.

© 2020 Howard Hughes Medical Institute. All rights reserved.

Version 1.4
Updated on 11/03/21