Australian government scientists are working to protect the Great Barrier Reef as climate change is increasing ocean temperatures and damaging the reef. They predict that further global warming will cause widespread bleaching of the reef if ocean temperatures rise even slightly. Polluted river runoff that smothers the corals is also causing damage by preventing light from reaching them.

1. Climate
Change

2. Short Review
Q1. Name one thing about the weather that you think has
changed over the last few years.
Q2. What sort of problems have been caused by a change in the
weather pattern?
Q3. What do you think the scientists mean when they say the
change in the climate in the Philippines is caused by global
warming?

3. Climate change
– a prediction
Australian government scientists are working on the protection
and restoration of the magnificent Great Barrier Reef. They
predict that further global warming that increases the
temperature of the oceans, even to a very small degree, will
result in bleaching of vast quantities of the reef. As well as
this, any further run-off from polluted rivers that smother the
corals, preventing light from reaching them will cause further
damage to some areas of the reef.

5. Q1. Name a common biotic or abiotic feature of a coral reef.
Q2. Describe the common predators that prey on the coral.
Q3. Explain why coral is a living thing (biotic).
Questions

6. Q2. Identify two abiotic factors whose change would
affect the life of the corals.
Q3. Explain how the change in one of these factors
affects the corals.
Questions