Educator Resources

Overview

This interactive exploration of the animation Coral Bleaching contains five automatic pause points, during which students access modules with additional information in the form of text, illustrations, videos, and questions. Descriptions of each module are as follows:

• Coral Reefs introduces the coral reef ecosystem and how it benefits humans and other organisms. It explores the concepts of ecosystems, biodiversity, and ecosystem services.
• The Corals examines the characteristics of coral polyps, the tiny organisms that make up coral reefs. It introduces the differences between sexual and asexual reproduction, and plant and animal cells.
• The Symbiont focuses on zooxanthellae, the symbiotic algae that live inside coral tissue. It includes the concepts of symbiosis (mutualism, parasitism, and commensalism), autotrophy, and endocytosis.
• The Chloroplasts shows how zooxanthellae use chloroplasts to produce food. It introduces photosynthesis and some of the cellular structures involved in this process.
• Coral Bleaching explains why corals may lose their zooxanthellae and how this affects both corals and the ecosystems they support. It describes the mechanisms for coral bleaching, including the role of rising temperatures, and its consequences for coral reefs worldwide.

Additional information related to pedagogy and implementation can be found on this resource’s webpage, including suggested audience, estimated time, and curriculum connections.

Key Concepts

• Coral reefs support high biodiversity and provide a variety of ecosystem services.
• Coral reefs are colonies of animals called polyps, which rely on symbiotic algae for survival.
• Coral bleaching reduces coral survival by driving polyps to destroy or expel their symbionts.
• Most coral bleaching worldwide is caused by unusually warm temperatures due to climate change.

Student Learning Targets

• Describe how ecosystems, such as coral reefs, benefit humans and other organisms.
• Differentiate between sexual and asexual reproduction.
• Compare plant and animal cells.
• Identify different types of symbiotic relationships.
• Summarize the role of chloroplasts in photosynthesis.
• Explain coral bleaching and its impacts.