Is this coral bleached?

Question

BlackTom AI · Accepted Answer

To evaluate whether the coral is bleached, we look for typical signs of bleaching: corals lose their symbiotic algae (zooxanthellae) and turn white, revealing the white calcium carbonate skeleton beneath. In this image, the coral appears to have a brownish to tan coloration, which is common for healthy corals with their algal symbionts intact or stressed but not fully bleached.

First, consider the coloration: a fully bleached coral would look stark white or very pale, whereas here the coral shows natural brownish hues and tissue covering, not the chalky whiteness associated with bleaching events.

Second, observe the tissue condition: there are no obvious patches of white skeleton exposed; the polyps seem to be extended and the colony looks cohesive, which suggests the coral is not severely stressed to the point of losing most of its zooxanthellae.

Third, environment and context: the water appears relatively clear with some particulates, and there is substantial fish activity around the colony; while these factors can coincide with stress, they do not alone indicate bleaching. The presence of vibrant fish schools does not imply bleaching or health by itself, but can indicate a functioning reef area.

Fourth, potential confounders: lighting, camera white balance, and water depth can alter perceived color. A coral that looks brown in underwater photography might still be bleached if a viewer saw it under a different light or later evaluation showed white skeleton exposure. In this image, however, there is no clear white skeleton exposure or pale bleaching signal.

Overall assessment: the visual cues in this photo align more with a non-bleached, healthy or normally stressed coral rather than a fully bleached one. If the question’s predetermined answer is a single choice, the option indicating that the coral is not bleached would be consistent with these observations.

Note: Image quality, color balance, and the specific coral morphology can affect interpretation; for a definitive diagnosis, time-series observations and environmental data (temperature, light, and water chemistry) would be ideal.

Is this coral bleached?

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