In 1998, over 60 countries reported the bleaching of corals. The cause was an El Nino event in addition to calm conditions, added to higher temperatures due to global warming. Coral bleaching such as the 1998 event can have serious impacts on the environment and on humans. The whitening of the coral can be used to indicate stress in the marine environment. Bleaching can result in a loss of species diversity, because as the coral deteriorates, the habitat of many marine species disappears.
Coral reefs have a commercial value to humans.
Income will also be lost through a decline in fishes, and fisheries. The other major effect to humans is to medicines. Coral bleaching events are therefore considered extremely important to prevent or reduce the occurrence. More scientific research is needed, and policies should be implemented to help protect the coral reef ecosystem. Effect of the environment on the bacterial bleaching of corals.