Many people are currently very concerned with the health of the coral reef of Belize.
It's no wonder, considering the environmental and economic foundation that it constitutes in this region. Coral reef ecosystems are extremely sensitive, especially to changes in water temperature and generally are restricted to mean water temperatures between 22 and 30 degrees Celsius. When the temperature is outside this narrow window, problems arise. Coral polyps are animals very dependent on a plant called zooxanthellae to provide food and oxygen through photosynthesis. Coral bleaching may occur when there is a rapid increase or fall in water temperature, causing coral polyps to begin expelling its zooanthellae population, thus weakening the coral's capacity to survive.