Become a
BleachWatch Diver
Learn about coral bleaching and how to help save our coral reefs as a citizen scientist with Mote Marine Laboratory and Aquarium...
What is Bleachwatch?
Become a Citizen Scientist
Stay updated on coral reef conditions
Advocate for coral reef conservation
what is a coral?
Tentacles
Mouth
Zooxanthellae
Stony corals are colonial marine invertebrates consisting of small individual polyps connected by tissue and a calcium carbonate skeleton. Although they can feed themselves using nematocysts (stinging cells) on their tentacles, most corals get the vast majority of their energy from zooxanthellae, specialized photosynthetic cells that live witin the coral tissue and provide the coral with the majority of its energy needs. Explore parts of the coral through the + icon...
Mucous
Nematocysts
Living tissue linking polyps
Skeleton
Gastrointestinal cavity
CORAL QUIZ
Coral Reefs...
Coral Reefs are shallow water marine ecosystems formed by past and present stony corals. Known as the 'rainforests of the sea', coral reefs support extensive biodiversity thanks to the complex and ever-growing calcium carbonate skeletons of the stony corals that comprise the reef.
Structural Complexity
Stony Corals
EVA SLIDE
WHY ARE CORALS IMPORTANT?
COASTAL PROTECTION
Coral reefs mitigate wave energy and storm surge before it reaches our shorelines
BIODIVERSITY
25 % of marine species rely on coral reefs during some or all of their life cycles
THE ECONOMY
Healthy coral reefs support economies and fisheries around the world
1 billion people rely on coral reefs for their livelihoods across the world.
- SCIENCE
Healthy vs Degraded Reef
Click on each difference to explore the ecosystem services provided by healthy reefs
Corals under threat
Click to explore threats facing coral reefs from small to large scale
Development & Pollution
Direct Human Impact
Large Scale
Small Scale
Global Climate Change
Disappearance of Herbivores
Coral Bleaching
Why does this happen?
https://www.catlinseaviewsurvey.com/coral-bleaching
From bright and healthy to a little pale , then ghost-white … corals face a tough road when the ocean gets too hot. But here’s the twist — the story doesn’t always end the same way! At the final stage, corals can either recover and bounce back or fade away into reef rubble.
Coral’s Journey Through Stress
Healthy & Happy
Dead & Gone
Ghost Coral
Feeling the Heat
Recovery is Possible!
Fading Fast
Florida Reef Tract Coral Cover
60%
of the Florida Reef Tract was covered by stony corals, the last time the reef was considered 'healthy'
1960
of the Florida Reef Tract is covered by stony coral today, approaching functional extinction.
<2%
Today
CORAL QUIZ
EVA SLIDE
Corals under threat
DIRECT HUMAN IMPACTS
Visitors can damage the reef by touching or stepping on corals, or dropping anchors and running boats into the reef
DISAPEARANCE OF HERBIVORES
Overfishing herbivorous fish and loss of other herbivores allows algae to out-compete corals on the reefs
DEVELOPMENT & POLLUTION
Runoff from coastal development and agriculture ends up on coral reefs, smothering corals with sediment and poisoning the environment.
CLIMATE CHANGE
Climate change is by far the largest threat facing coral reefs -- from higher water temperatures to ocean acidification, anthropogenic climate change drives coral reef degradation
Water Tempreature vs Coral bleaching reported
This graph compares the number of BleachWatch reports submitted each year with the average sea surface temperature in the Florida Keys. The bars show how many community-based bleaching observations were recorded annually, while the line shows the trend in average water temperature. Together, they illustrate the relationship between rising ocean temperatures and the frequency of coral bleaching reports.
+ info
Coral Resoration at mote
+26,000
+100
240,000+
Coral Fragments returned to the reef
corals planted
Corals
+ info
+ info
+ info
of +20 speices produced by Mote scientists since 2008.
Over 26,000 corals have been outplanted on the reef by Mote scientist in 2024
Treated by Mote for dealy disease in 2024
Check out Mote's 2024 Annual Report to learn more.
Return to "What is BleachWatch"
When these vibrant coral communities unite, especially hard coral, like stony corals ,are the primary builders of the reef, and the ones unfortunately, under attack. Our aim today is to discuss different types of corals and ways to recognize early warning signs of another bleaching event.
Here you can include a relevant data to highlight
Mote'S BLeach Watch PartnerS
+ info
+ info
+ info
+ info
MOte Coral Resoration
+26,000
+100
+100,000
corals planted
Corals
Coral Fragments
+ info
+ info
+ info
Over 26,000 corals have been outplanted on the reef by Mote scientist in 2024
Treated by Mote for dealy disease in 2024
of +20 speices produced by Mote in 2024 for upcoming reef restoration
Charts are highly shareable, making them ideal for social media and, on top of that, they tend to generate quality traffic to the content we create.
60%
Chart + text
Use this space to briefly describe your chart and its evolution.
Match coral Family
'Including quotes always reinforces our presentation. Breaks the monotony.'
- Author's Name
Togther We can Save our Reefs
Learn about the Partnership
Wow Effect
'Your content is liked, but it only engages if it's interactive' - Genially
Did you know that Genially allows you to share your creation directly, without the need for downloads? Ready for your audience to visualize it on any device and give it exposure anywhere.
Here you can include a relevant data to highlight
Timeline
20XX
20XX
20XX
Surprise
Plan
Design
20XX
20XX
Structure
Communicate
Table + text
Demonstrate enthusiasm, sketch a smile and maintain eye contact with your audience can be your best allies when it comes to telling stories that excite and awaken the interest of the public: 'The eyes, chico. They never lie'. This will help you make a 'match' with your audience. Leave them open-mouthed!
Table + text
Demonstrate enthusiasm, give a smile, and maintain eye contact with your audience can be your best allies when it comes to telling stories that excite and arouse the audience's interest: 'The eyes, man. They never lie'. This will help you make a 'match' with your audience. Leave them open-mouthed!
Social beings
Visual
We are able to understand images from millions of years ago, even from other cultures.
We need to interact with each other. We learn collaboratively.
Beings digital
Narrative beings
We tell thousands and thousands of stories. ⅔ of our conversations are stories.
We avoid being part of the content saturation in the digital world.
Insert a video
Multimedia content is essential in a presentation to leave everyone amazed. Additionally, you will synthesize the content and keep your audience entertained.
Text + icons
Although you should not abuse bulletpoints, icons and schemes can be great allies when telling stories.
Has a WOW effect. Very WOW.
Measures results and experiments
Generates experiences with your content
Is organized, hierarchical, and structured
Makes your audience remember the message
Activates and surprises your audience
Audio
Your content is engaging if it is interactive
This is a paragraph ready to contain creativity, experiences, and great stories.
It is essential to make the relevant checks. Not a single typo!
This is a paragraph ready to contain creativity, experiences, and great stories.
The tone is usually formal and the vocabulary technical, so keep that in mind when writing.
Embedded Content
Map
Social Media
Music
Interactive Question
Interactive Question
Interactive Question
Conclusion
Disciplines like Visual Thinking facilitate visually rich note-taking thanks to the use of images, graphics, infographics, and simple drawings. Go for it!
Visual content is a cross-cutting language, universal, like music. We are able to understand images from millions of years ago, even from other cultures.
Did you know that Genially allows you to share your creation directly, without the need for downloads? Ready for your audience to view it on any device and give it exposure anywhere.
'Your content is liked, but it engages much more if it is interactive'-Genially
Thank you!
Mucous
Corals release mucous, or slime, to protect against UV...
UV
FEEDING
Learn about Coral Conservation
Become an advocate for the reefs that support our communities! Learn about coral biogloy, conservation and restoration to spread support for healthy reefs.
Economic Value
Fisheries
&
Ecosystem services provided by coral reefs are estimated at $9.9 trillion annually, making their conservation essential to humans everywhere.
In the US, half of all federally managed fisheries rely on coral reefs, with an estimated annual value of coral reefs to fisheries of $200 million.
This valuation includes fisheries that rely on reefs, tourism, coastal protection, access to food, and other ecosystem services.
Around the world, coral reefs support 6 million fishers in nearly 100 countries, serving as a primary food resource for coastal communities globally.
Growing the Reef: Mote’s Coral Restoration Champions
The Coral Restoration Team at Mote Marine Laboratory is dedicated to rebuilding and protecting Florida’s coral reefs. Using innovative techniques like micro-fragging and nursery-based coral cultivation, the team grows resilient corals and outplants them onto the reef. To date, they have successfully outplanted over 26,000 corals along the Florida Reef Tract, helping to restore reef structure, enhance biodiversity, and support the long-term health of these vital ecosystems.
+Learn More
an awesome title here
With Genially's templates, you can include visual resources to leave your audience amazed. You can also highlight a specific phrase or data that remains engraved in the memory of your audience and even embed external content that surprises: videos, photos, audios... Whatever you want!
a great title here
With Genially's templates, you can include visual resources to leave your audience amazed. You can also highlight a specific phrase or data that will be etched in the memory of your audience and even embed external content that surprises: videos, photos, audios... Whatever you want!
an awesome title here
With Genially's templates, you can include visual resources to leave your audience amazed. Also, highlight a specific phrase or data that remains engraved in fire in the memory of your audience and even embed external content that surprises: videos, photos, audios... Whatever you want!
an awesome title here
With Genially's templates, you can include visual resources to leave your audience amazed. You can also highlight a specific phrase or data that remains engraved in the memory of your audience and even embed external content that surprises: videos, photos, audios... Whatever you want!
Ocean acidification
Increased weather events
High temperatures
Much of the greenhouse gas released by human activity is absorbed by our oceans, causing the oceans pH to drop and disrupting the ability of corals to create their calcium carbonate skeletons.
Higher sea surface temperatures, even by a few degrees, can stress corals, causing them to expel their zooxanthellae and starve.
Climate change is increasing the frequency and intensity of storms, resulting in increased storm damage to reefs.
Monitor the Flordia Reef Tract
By donating your time as a BleachWatch Observer for Mote, you can contribute essential and real-time data to Mote's research in our mission to Track coral bleaching and diesase on the Florida Reef Track.
a great title here
With Genially's templates, you can include visual resources to leave your audience amazed. Also, highlight a specific phrase or data that remains engraved in the memory of your audience, and even embed external content that surprises: videos, photos, audios... Whatever you want!
Healthy & Happy Coral
No Bleaching Present
Bursting with color and life, healthy coral is like an underwater city buzzing with activity! The zooxanthellae living inside the coral’s tissues gives it energy and its rainbow glow. When corals are happy, they provide food, shelter, and a safe home for countless ocean creatures. It’s reef life at its very best!
Coastal Protection
&
Beach Building
Tropical beaches around the world are often made of and replenished by eroded coral skeletons. Sand is created by persistent wave action and parrotfish feeding on algae and passing sand through their digestive systems.
Healthy coral reefs create shallow, structurally complex stuctures (reefs) that break up wave energy. This is particularly important during large storms and the resulting storm surges that can greatly harm coastal infrastructure without reefs.
Marine Species
Biomedical Research
&
Research on compounds found in coral reef organisms are showing great promise in the treatment of certain cancers, arthritis, infections, and other illnesses. If we lose our reefs, we lose the opportunity to further research these organisms that may hold the key to many human diseases.
Despite only covering 0.2% of the ocean floor, coral reefs support 25% of all discovered marine species. The high structural complexity of coral reefs creates provides abundant habitat types, food, and shelter for over 4,000 species of reef fish, 840 species of corals, and over a million species of other animals.
Visitors can damage the reef by touching, stepping on, or collecting corals. Poor fishing practices and litter can also smother and break corals. Remember to take only pictures and leave only bubbles!
Touching & Taking
Improper anchoring and boating practices can cause major damage to reefs in an instant. Using proper moorings helps to mitigate this threat.
Boating Damage
Chemicals in many sunscreens have been linked to mortality in baby corals. Use mineral and reef safe sunscreens during your visit to the reef!
Chemical Sunscreen
SKELETON
Stony corals (scleractinia) form their skeletons by uptaking calcium carbonate (CaCO3) from the water column and depositing it underneath the polyp, elevating the polyp and expanding the colonial structure. When stressed, the polyps can retract into the skeletal cup, protecting their delicate tissues from any threats.
2HCO + Ca --> CaCO + CO + H O
2+
Ghost White
Fully Bleached
A completely white coral is fully bleached and no longer has zooxanthellae to provide energy to the colony. However, a bleached coral ≠ a dead coral! The polyps are still alive, and the coral must feed using its tentacles and mucous alone, a practice that is not sustainable long term.
Credit: Lauren Worrick, BW Observer Alligator Reef, September 2025
Toxins & Pathogens
Nutrient Runoff
Sedimentation
Sedimentation
Sediment from coastal development and urban stormwater runoff that ends up in the ocean and deposits on the reef smothers corals and prevents them from feeding, growing, and reproducing.
Fertilizer and nutrient runoff from agricultural activity that make it onto coral reefs encourage algae growth, smothering corals and support pathogenic organisms that further threaten corals.
Sediment from coastal development and urban stormwater runoff that ends up in the ocean and deposits on the reef smothers corals and prevents them from feeding, growing, and reproducing.
Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua.
Micro-Fragging: Growing Corals Faster for Reef Restoration
Micro-fragging is a coral restoration technique where large corals are cut into many small pieces, or “fragments,” which are then grown in nurseries on land or underwater. Because corals naturally grow faster along their edges, breaking them into smaller pieces encourages quicker growth and helps produce more corals in a shorter amount of time.
Benefits of micro-fragging:
- Speeds up coral growth rates
- Produces more corals from a single colony
- Helps restore reef structure and biodiversity
- Increases survival chances by spreading corals across multiple sites
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Fading Fast –
Full Colony Paling
Uh-oh! The whole coral colony is starting to lose its color. Most of the zooxanthellae has been expelled, leaving the coral looking pale and stressed. The coral is still alive, but it’s working hard to survive in these warmer waters and is highly suceptible to disease.
Credit: Daryl Duda, BW Observer Benwood Shipwreck, September 2025
a great title here
With Genially's templates, you can include visual resources to leave your audience amazed. Also, highlight a specific phrase or data that remains etched in fire in the memory of your audience and even embed external content that surprises: videos, photos, audios... Whatever you want!
a great title here
With Genially's templates, you can include visual resources to leave your audience amazed. Also, highlight a specific phrase or data that remains etched in fire in the memory of your audience and even embed external content that surprises: videos, photos, audios... Whatever you want!
an awesome title here
With Genially's templates, you can include visual resources to leave your audience amazed. You can also highlight a specific phrase or data that remains engraved in the memory of your audience and even embed external content that surprises: videos, photos, audios... Whatever you want!
Ocean acidification
Increased weather events
High temperatures
Much of the greenhouse gas released by human activity is absorbed by our oceans, causing the oceans pH to drop and disrupting the ability of corals to create their calcium carbonate skeletons.
Higher sea surface temperatures, even by a few degrees, can stress corals, causing them to expel their zooxanthellae and starve.
Climate change is increasing the frequency and intensity of storms, resulting in increased storm damage to reefs.
If the water cools and conditions improve, the coral can recover, welcoming zooxanthellae back and regaining its vibrant color. Life returns to the reef, and the coral gets a second chance to thrive!
Bounce Back
If stress continues, the coral is likely to die and be overtaken by algae, leaving behind ghostly white skeletons. It’s a stark reminder of how fragile reefs can be when conditions don’t improve.
Break Down
VS
Micro-Fragging: Growing Corals Faster for Reef Restoration
Micro-fragging is a coral restoration technique where large corals are cut into many small pieces, or “fragments,” which are then grown in nurseries on land or underwater. Because corals naturally grow faster along their edges, breaking them into smaller pieces encourages quicker growth and helps produce more corals in a shorter amount of time.
Benefits of micro-fragging:
- Speeds up coral growth rates
- Produces more corals from a single colony
- Helps restore reef structure and biodiversity
- Increases survival chances by spreading corals across multiple sites
a great title here
With Genially's templates, you can include visual resources to leave your audience amazed. Also, highlight a specific phrase or data that remains engraved in fire in the memory of your audience and even embed external content that surprises: videos, photos, audios... Whatever you want!
a great title here
With Genially's templates, you can include visual resources to leave your audience amazed. Also, highlight a specific phrase or data that remains engraved in the memory of your audience and even embed external content that surprises: videos, photos, audios... Whatever you want!
Growing the Reef: Mote’s Coral Restoration Champions
The Coral Restoration Team at Mote Marine Laboratory is dedicated to rebuilding and protecting Florida’s coral reefs. Using innovative techniques like micro-fragging and nursery-based coral cultivation, the team grows resilient corals and outplants them onto the reef. To date, they have successfully outplanted over 26,000 corals along the Florida Reef Tract, helping to restore reef structure, enhance biodiversity, and support the long-term health of these vital ecosystems.
+Learn More
Tentacles
Polyps use their tentacles, surrounding their mouth, for defense, to capture food, and to clear debris from the animal. Once caught, food is placed into the mouth and digested.
ENERGY
Stay updated on current conditions
The BleachWatch team compiles and distributes BleachWatch reports throughout the summer using data submitted by citizen scientists
- See your data reported to marine agencies
- View images of bleached or diseased corals submitted by BleachWatch divers
- Understand current threats to the reef
Sample report
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Diseased Urchins
Population Decline
Overfishing
Between 1970 and 2020, extensive population surveys conducted by the World Wildlife Fund found a 56% decline in average marine wildlife populations, including herbivores on the planet's reefs.
In the 1990s, a disease wiped out 95% of Florida's long spine sea urchin populations. These invertebrates were key grazers on the reef, without which algae began to take over.
Around the world, lackluster fishing regulations and enforcement can drastically decrease grazing fish like parrotfish, allowing algae to compete with corals freely.
Zooxanthellae
ENERGY
Zooxanthellae, tiny photosynthetic cells that live inside coral tissues, provide corals with up to 90% of their daily energy needs.
In return, the coral provides the zooxanthellae with a place to live, making this collaboration a symbiotic mutualistic relationship.
COLOR
Zooxanthellae also gives coral its trademark color, as coral tissue itself is translucent.
When corals become stressed, they often expel the zooxanthellae from their tissues, causing them to become white in a process known as bleaching.
a great title here
With Genially templates, you can include visual resources to leave your audience speechless. You can also highlight a specific phrase or specific data that will be engraved in the memory of your audience and even embed external content that surprises: videos, photos, audios... Whatever you want! Need more reasons to create dynamic content? Well: 90% of the information we assimilate comes to us through sight and, in addition, we retain 42% more information when the content moves.
Monitor the Florida Reef Tract
By volunteering your time as a BleachWatch diver for Mote, you contribute essential and real-time data to Mote's research in our mission to track coral bleaching and disease on the Florida Reef Tract.
Mote BleachWatch Website
- Report environmental conditions
- Report coral reef condition, including disease and bleaching
- Upload photos that may be published on the official BleachWatch report
Mote Coral Health & Disease Team
The Coral Health & Disease Research Program at Mote Marine Laboratory is dedicated to understanding and mitigating the threats facing coral reefs, particularly in Florida. Under the leadership of Dr. Erinn Muller, the team employs a multifaceted approach, combining field surveys, laboratory experiments, and molecular techniques to study coral susceptibility and resilience to stressors like climate change and disease. Collaborating closely with other programs such as Coral Resilience, Reproduction, and Restoration, they aim to enhance reef biodiversity and promote long-term ecosystem health.
Advocate for Coral Conservation & Restoration
Dive into the world of coral biology and discover why these vibrant ecosystems are so important! Learn about the amazing work of the Mote Coral Restoration Team, from growing corals in nurseries to planting them back on the reef, helping restore these underwater cities. Explore coral conservation, bleaching, and restoration efforts, and gain the tools to spread awareness, inspire action, and support healthy reefs for generations to come.
Learn more about coral restoration at Mote
an awesome title here
With Genially's templates, you can include visual resources to leave your audience amazed. You can also highlight a specific phrase or data that will be etched in the memory of your audience, and even embed external content that surprises: videos, photos, audios... Whatever you want!
High Water Temperature
Recovery Potential
VS
A bleached coral is not necessarily dead!
Corals require specific conditions to thrive. Higher water temperatures, even by just a few degrees, cause coral stress.
If water temperatures decrease within a few weeks, bleached corals can reuptake their zooxanthellae and recover.
When stressed, corals expel their zooxanthellae, becoming bright white. Without their main source of energy, they have to rely on filter feeding with their tentacles to survive.
This recovery potential highlights the importance of addressing global climate change rapidly to allow for the recovery of our coral reefs.
a great title here
With Genially's templates, you can include visual resources to leave your audience amazed. You can also highlight a specific phrase or data that will remain engraved in the memory of your audience, and even embed external content that surprises: videos, photos, audios... Whatever you want!
Feeling the Heat
Upper Surface Paling
As ocean temperatures rise, corals become stressed. The upper surface begins to pale as some zooxanthellae are expelled. It’s a warning sign that the coral is struggling, but it’s still alive and fighting to survive!
Nematocysts
Nematocysts are stinging cells located in the tentacles, used for feeding and defense. The cells, activated by touch, extend a harpoon-like filament and release toxins to capture prey.
Mote Coral Health & Disease Team
The Coral Health & Disease Research Program at Mote Marine Laboratory is dedicated to understanding and mitigating the threats facing coral reefs, particularly in Florida. Under the leadership of Dr. Erinn Muller, the team employs a multifaceted approach, combining field surveys, laboratory experiments, and molecular techniques to study coral susceptibility and resilience to stressors like climate change and disease. Collaborating closely with other programs such as Coral Resilience, Reproduction, and Restoration, they aim to enhance reef biodiversity and promote long-term ecosystem health.
Stony corals create highly complex shallow water structures, resulting in a massive variety of micro and macro ecosystems that support biodiversity and break up wave energy and action
Stony corals form the base of all coral reefs. Because of their ever-growing calcium carbonate skeletons, the reef continuously grows, recovering its complexity after damage and creating ever-changing ecosystems for the biodiversity reefs support.
Bleach Watching Training Florida
Natalie Springer
Created on September 2, 2025
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Transcript
Become a
BleachWatch Diver
Learn about coral bleaching and how to help save our coral reefs as a citizen scientist with Mote Marine Laboratory and Aquarium...
What is Bleachwatch?
Become a Citizen Scientist
Stay updated on coral reef conditions
Advocate for coral reef conservation
what is a coral?
Tentacles
Mouth
Zooxanthellae
Stony corals are colonial marine invertebrates consisting of small individual polyps connected by tissue and a calcium carbonate skeleton. Although they can feed themselves using nematocysts (stinging cells) on their tentacles, most corals get the vast majority of their energy from zooxanthellae, specialized photosynthetic cells that live witin the coral tissue and provide the coral with the majority of its energy needs. Explore parts of the coral through the + icon...
Mucous
Nematocysts
Living tissue linking polyps
Skeleton
Gastrointestinal cavity
CORAL QUIZ
Coral Reefs...
Coral Reefs are shallow water marine ecosystems formed by past and present stony corals. Known as the 'rainforests of the sea', coral reefs support extensive biodiversity thanks to the complex and ever-growing calcium carbonate skeletons of the stony corals that comprise the reef.
Structural Complexity
Stony Corals
EVA SLIDE
WHY ARE CORALS IMPORTANT?
COASTAL PROTECTION
Coral reefs mitigate wave energy and storm surge before it reaches our shorelines
BIODIVERSITY
25 % of marine species rely on coral reefs during some or all of their life cycles
THE ECONOMY
Healthy coral reefs support economies and fisheries around the world
1 billion people rely on coral reefs for their livelihoods across the world.
- SCIENCE
Healthy vs Degraded Reef
Click on each difference to explore the ecosystem services provided by healthy reefs
Corals under threat
Click to explore threats facing coral reefs from small to large scale
Development & Pollution
Direct Human Impact
Large Scale
Small Scale
Global Climate Change
Disappearance of Herbivores
Coral Bleaching
Why does this happen?
https://www.catlinseaviewsurvey.com/coral-bleaching
From bright and healthy to a little pale , then ghost-white … corals face a tough road when the ocean gets too hot. But here’s the twist — the story doesn’t always end the same way! At the final stage, corals can either recover and bounce back or fade away into reef rubble.
Coral’s Journey Through Stress
Healthy & Happy
Dead & Gone
Ghost Coral
Feeling the Heat
Recovery is Possible!
Fading Fast
Florida Reef Tract Coral Cover
60%
of the Florida Reef Tract was covered by stony corals, the last time the reef was considered 'healthy'
1960
of the Florida Reef Tract is covered by stony coral today, approaching functional extinction.
<2%
Today
CORAL QUIZ
EVA SLIDE
Corals under threat
DIRECT HUMAN IMPACTS
Visitors can damage the reef by touching or stepping on corals, or dropping anchors and running boats into the reef
DISAPEARANCE OF HERBIVORES
Overfishing herbivorous fish and loss of other herbivores allows algae to out-compete corals on the reefs
DEVELOPMENT & POLLUTION
Runoff from coastal development and agriculture ends up on coral reefs, smothering corals with sediment and poisoning the environment.
CLIMATE CHANGE
Climate change is by far the largest threat facing coral reefs -- from higher water temperatures to ocean acidification, anthropogenic climate change drives coral reef degradation
Water Tempreature vs Coral bleaching reported
This graph compares the number of BleachWatch reports submitted each year with the average sea surface temperature in the Florida Keys. The bars show how many community-based bleaching observations were recorded annually, while the line shows the trend in average water temperature. Together, they illustrate the relationship between rising ocean temperatures and the frequency of coral bleaching reports.
+ info
Coral Resoration at mote
+26,000
+100
240,000+
Coral Fragments returned to the reef
corals planted
Corals
+ info
+ info
+ info
of +20 speices produced by Mote scientists since 2008.
Over 26,000 corals have been outplanted on the reef by Mote scientist in 2024
Treated by Mote for dealy disease in 2024
Check out Mote's 2024 Annual Report to learn more.
Return to "What is BleachWatch"
When these vibrant coral communities unite, especially hard coral, like stony corals ,are the primary builders of the reef, and the ones unfortunately, under attack. Our aim today is to discuss different types of corals and ways to recognize early warning signs of another bleaching event.
Here you can include a relevant data to highlight
Mote'S BLeach Watch PartnerS
+ info
+ info
+ info
+ info
MOte Coral Resoration
+26,000
+100
+100,000
corals planted
Corals
Coral Fragments
+ info
+ info
+ info
Over 26,000 corals have been outplanted on the reef by Mote scientist in 2024
Treated by Mote for dealy disease in 2024
of +20 speices produced by Mote in 2024 for upcoming reef restoration
Charts are highly shareable, making them ideal for social media and, on top of that, they tend to generate quality traffic to the content we create.
60%
Chart + text
Use this space to briefly describe your chart and its evolution.
Match coral Family
'Including quotes always reinforces our presentation. Breaks the monotony.'
- Author's Name
Togther We can Save our Reefs
Learn about the Partnership
Wow Effect
'Your content is liked, but it only engages if it's interactive' - Genially
Did you know that Genially allows you to share your creation directly, without the need for downloads? Ready for your audience to visualize it on any device and give it exposure anywhere.
Here you can include a relevant data to highlight
Timeline
20XX
20XX
20XX
Surprise
Plan
Design
20XX
20XX
Structure
Communicate
Table + text
Demonstrate enthusiasm, sketch a smile and maintain eye contact with your audience can be your best allies when it comes to telling stories that excite and awaken the interest of the public: 'The eyes, chico. They never lie'. This will help you make a 'match' with your audience. Leave them open-mouthed!
Table + text
Demonstrate enthusiasm, give a smile, and maintain eye contact with your audience can be your best allies when it comes to telling stories that excite and arouse the audience's interest: 'The eyes, man. They never lie'. This will help you make a 'match' with your audience. Leave them open-mouthed!
Social beings
Visual
We are able to understand images from millions of years ago, even from other cultures.
We need to interact with each other. We learn collaboratively.
Beings digital
Narrative beings
We tell thousands and thousands of stories. ⅔ of our conversations are stories.
We avoid being part of the content saturation in the digital world.
Insert a video
Multimedia content is essential in a presentation to leave everyone amazed. Additionally, you will synthesize the content and keep your audience entertained.
Text + icons
Although you should not abuse bulletpoints, icons and schemes can be great allies when telling stories.
Has a WOW effect. Very WOW.
Measures results and experiments
Generates experiences with your content
Is organized, hierarchical, and structured
Makes your audience remember the message
Activates and surprises your audience
Audio
Your content is engaging if it is interactive
This is a paragraph ready to contain creativity, experiences, and great stories.
It is essential to make the relevant checks. Not a single typo!
This is a paragraph ready to contain creativity, experiences, and great stories.
The tone is usually formal and the vocabulary technical, so keep that in mind when writing.
Embedded Content
Map
Social Media
Music
Interactive Question
Interactive Question
Interactive Question
Conclusion
Disciplines like Visual Thinking facilitate visually rich note-taking thanks to the use of images, graphics, infographics, and simple drawings. Go for it!
Visual content is a cross-cutting language, universal, like music. We are able to understand images from millions of years ago, even from other cultures.
Did you know that Genially allows you to share your creation directly, without the need for downloads? Ready for your audience to view it on any device and give it exposure anywhere.
'Your content is liked, but it engages much more if it is interactive'-Genially
Thank you!
Mucous
Corals release mucous, or slime, to protect against UV...
UV
FEEDING
Learn about Coral Conservation
Become an advocate for the reefs that support our communities! Learn about coral biogloy, conservation and restoration to spread support for healthy reefs.
Economic Value
Fisheries
&
Ecosystem services provided by coral reefs are estimated at $9.9 trillion annually, making their conservation essential to humans everywhere.
In the US, half of all federally managed fisheries rely on coral reefs, with an estimated annual value of coral reefs to fisheries of $200 million.
This valuation includes fisheries that rely on reefs, tourism, coastal protection, access to food, and other ecosystem services.
Around the world, coral reefs support 6 million fishers in nearly 100 countries, serving as a primary food resource for coastal communities globally.
Growing the Reef: Mote’s Coral Restoration Champions
The Coral Restoration Team at Mote Marine Laboratory is dedicated to rebuilding and protecting Florida’s coral reefs. Using innovative techniques like micro-fragging and nursery-based coral cultivation, the team grows resilient corals and outplants them onto the reef. To date, they have successfully outplanted over 26,000 corals along the Florida Reef Tract, helping to restore reef structure, enhance biodiversity, and support the long-term health of these vital ecosystems.
+Learn More
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With Genially's templates, you can include visual resources to leave your audience amazed. You can also highlight a specific phrase or data that remains engraved in the memory of your audience and even embed external content that surprises: videos, photos, audios... Whatever you want!
a great title here
With Genially's templates, you can include visual resources to leave your audience amazed. You can also highlight a specific phrase or data that will be etched in the memory of your audience and even embed external content that surprises: videos, photos, audios... Whatever you want!
an awesome title here
With Genially's templates, you can include visual resources to leave your audience amazed. Also, highlight a specific phrase or data that remains engraved in fire in the memory of your audience and even embed external content that surprises: videos, photos, audios... Whatever you want!
an awesome title here
With Genially's templates, you can include visual resources to leave your audience amazed. You can also highlight a specific phrase or data that remains engraved in the memory of your audience and even embed external content that surprises: videos, photos, audios... Whatever you want!
Ocean acidification
Increased weather events
High temperatures
Much of the greenhouse gas released by human activity is absorbed by our oceans, causing the oceans pH to drop and disrupting the ability of corals to create their calcium carbonate skeletons.
Higher sea surface temperatures, even by a few degrees, can stress corals, causing them to expel their zooxanthellae and starve.
Climate change is increasing the frequency and intensity of storms, resulting in increased storm damage to reefs.
Monitor the Flordia Reef Tract
By donating your time as a BleachWatch Observer for Mote, you can contribute essential and real-time data to Mote's research in our mission to Track coral bleaching and diesase on the Florida Reef Track.
a great title here
With Genially's templates, you can include visual resources to leave your audience amazed. Also, highlight a specific phrase or data that remains engraved in the memory of your audience, and even embed external content that surprises: videos, photos, audios... Whatever you want!
Healthy & Happy Coral
No Bleaching Present
Bursting with color and life, healthy coral is like an underwater city buzzing with activity! The zooxanthellae living inside the coral’s tissues gives it energy and its rainbow glow. When corals are happy, they provide food, shelter, and a safe home for countless ocean creatures. It’s reef life at its very best!
Coastal Protection
&
Beach Building
Tropical beaches around the world are often made of and replenished by eroded coral skeletons. Sand is created by persistent wave action and parrotfish feeding on algae and passing sand through their digestive systems.
Healthy coral reefs create shallow, structurally complex stuctures (reefs) that break up wave energy. This is particularly important during large storms and the resulting storm surges that can greatly harm coastal infrastructure without reefs.
Marine Species
Biomedical Research
&
Research on compounds found in coral reef organisms are showing great promise in the treatment of certain cancers, arthritis, infections, and other illnesses. If we lose our reefs, we lose the opportunity to further research these organisms that may hold the key to many human diseases.
Despite only covering 0.2% of the ocean floor, coral reefs support 25% of all discovered marine species. The high structural complexity of coral reefs creates provides abundant habitat types, food, and shelter for over 4,000 species of reef fish, 840 species of corals, and over a million species of other animals.
Visitors can damage the reef by touching, stepping on, or collecting corals. Poor fishing practices and litter can also smother and break corals. Remember to take only pictures and leave only bubbles!
Touching & Taking
Improper anchoring and boating practices can cause major damage to reefs in an instant. Using proper moorings helps to mitigate this threat.
Boating Damage
Chemicals in many sunscreens have been linked to mortality in baby corals. Use mineral and reef safe sunscreens during your visit to the reef!
Chemical Sunscreen
SKELETON
Stony corals (scleractinia) form their skeletons by uptaking calcium carbonate (CaCO3) from the water column and depositing it underneath the polyp, elevating the polyp and expanding the colonial structure. When stressed, the polyps can retract into the skeletal cup, protecting their delicate tissues from any threats.
2HCO + Ca --> CaCO + CO + H O
2+
Ghost White
Fully Bleached
A completely white coral is fully bleached and no longer has zooxanthellae to provide energy to the colony. However, a bleached coral ≠ a dead coral! The polyps are still alive, and the coral must feed using its tentacles and mucous alone, a practice that is not sustainable long term.
Credit: Lauren Worrick, BW Observer Alligator Reef, September 2025
Toxins & Pathogens
Nutrient Runoff
Sedimentation
Sedimentation
Sediment from coastal development and urban stormwater runoff that ends up in the ocean and deposits on the reef smothers corals and prevents them from feeding, growing, and reproducing.
Fertilizer and nutrient runoff from agricultural activity that make it onto coral reefs encourage algae growth, smothering corals and support pathogenic organisms that further threaten corals.
Sediment from coastal development and urban stormwater runoff that ends up in the ocean and deposits on the reef smothers corals and prevents them from feeding, growing, and reproducing.
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Micro-Fragging: Growing Corals Faster for Reef Restoration
Micro-fragging is a coral restoration technique where large corals are cut into many small pieces, or “fragments,” which are then grown in nurseries on land or underwater. Because corals naturally grow faster along their edges, breaking them into smaller pieces encourages quicker growth and helps produce more corals in a shorter amount of time.
Benefits of micro-fragging:
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With Genially's templates, you can include visual resources to leave your audience amazed. Also, highlight a specific phrase or data that remains engraved in the memory of your audience, and even embed external content that surprises: videos, photos, audios... Whatever you want!
Fading Fast –
Full Colony Paling
Uh-oh! The whole coral colony is starting to lose its color. Most of the zooxanthellae has been expelled, leaving the coral looking pale and stressed. The coral is still alive, but it’s working hard to survive in these warmer waters and is highly suceptible to disease.
Credit: Daryl Duda, BW Observer Benwood Shipwreck, September 2025
a great title here
With Genially's templates, you can include visual resources to leave your audience amazed. Also, highlight a specific phrase or data that remains etched in fire in the memory of your audience and even embed external content that surprises: videos, photos, audios... Whatever you want!
a great title here
With Genially's templates, you can include visual resources to leave your audience amazed. Also, highlight a specific phrase or data that remains etched in fire in the memory of your audience and even embed external content that surprises: videos, photos, audios... Whatever you want!
an awesome title here
With Genially's templates, you can include visual resources to leave your audience amazed. You can also highlight a specific phrase or data that remains engraved in the memory of your audience and even embed external content that surprises: videos, photos, audios... Whatever you want!
Ocean acidification
Increased weather events
High temperatures
Much of the greenhouse gas released by human activity is absorbed by our oceans, causing the oceans pH to drop and disrupting the ability of corals to create their calcium carbonate skeletons.
Higher sea surface temperatures, even by a few degrees, can stress corals, causing them to expel their zooxanthellae and starve.
Climate change is increasing the frequency and intensity of storms, resulting in increased storm damage to reefs.
If the water cools and conditions improve, the coral can recover, welcoming zooxanthellae back and regaining its vibrant color. Life returns to the reef, and the coral gets a second chance to thrive!
Bounce Back
If stress continues, the coral is likely to die and be overtaken by algae, leaving behind ghostly white skeletons. It’s a stark reminder of how fragile reefs can be when conditions don’t improve.
Break Down
VS
Micro-Fragging: Growing Corals Faster for Reef Restoration
Micro-fragging is a coral restoration technique where large corals are cut into many small pieces, or “fragments,” which are then grown in nurseries on land or underwater. Because corals naturally grow faster along their edges, breaking them into smaller pieces encourages quicker growth and helps produce more corals in a shorter amount of time.
Benefits of micro-fragging:
a great title here
With Genially's templates, you can include visual resources to leave your audience amazed. Also, highlight a specific phrase or data that remains engraved in fire in the memory of your audience and even embed external content that surprises: videos, photos, audios... Whatever you want!
a great title here
With Genially's templates, you can include visual resources to leave your audience amazed. Also, highlight a specific phrase or data that remains engraved in the memory of your audience and even embed external content that surprises: videos, photos, audios... Whatever you want!
Growing the Reef: Mote’s Coral Restoration Champions
The Coral Restoration Team at Mote Marine Laboratory is dedicated to rebuilding and protecting Florida’s coral reefs. Using innovative techniques like micro-fragging and nursery-based coral cultivation, the team grows resilient corals and outplants them onto the reef. To date, they have successfully outplanted over 26,000 corals along the Florida Reef Tract, helping to restore reef structure, enhance biodiversity, and support the long-term health of these vital ecosystems.
+Learn More
Tentacles
Polyps use their tentacles, surrounding their mouth, for defense, to capture food, and to clear debris from the animal. Once caught, food is placed into the mouth and digested.
ENERGY
Stay updated on current conditions
The BleachWatch team compiles and distributes BleachWatch reports throughout the summer using data submitted by citizen scientists
Sample report
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With Genially's templates, you can include visual resources to leave your audience amazed. Also, highlight a specific phrase or data that remains engraved in fire in the memory of your audience and even embed external content that surprises: videos, photos, audios... Whatever you want!
Diseased Urchins
Population Decline
Overfishing
Between 1970 and 2020, extensive population surveys conducted by the World Wildlife Fund found a 56% decline in average marine wildlife populations, including herbivores on the planet's reefs.
In the 1990s, a disease wiped out 95% of Florida's long spine sea urchin populations. These invertebrates were key grazers on the reef, without which algae began to take over.
Around the world, lackluster fishing regulations and enforcement can drastically decrease grazing fish like parrotfish, allowing algae to compete with corals freely.
Zooxanthellae
ENERGY
Zooxanthellae, tiny photosynthetic cells that live inside coral tissues, provide corals with up to 90% of their daily energy needs.
In return, the coral provides the zooxanthellae with a place to live, making this collaboration a symbiotic mutualistic relationship.
COLOR
Zooxanthellae also gives coral its trademark color, as coral tissue itself is translucent.
When corals become stressed, they often expel the zooxanthellae from their tissues, causing them to become white in a process known as bleaching.
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With Genially templates, you can include visual resources to leave your audience speechless. You can also highlight a specific phrase or specific data that will be engraved in the memory of your audience and even embed external content that surprises: videos, photos, audios... Whatever you want! Need more reasons to create dynamic content? Well: 90% of the information we assimilate comes to us through sight and, in addition, we retain 42% more information when the content moves.
Monitor the Florida Reef Tract
By volunteering your time as a BleachWatch diver for Mote, you contribute essential and real-time data to Mote's research in our mission to track coral bleaching and disease on the Florida Reef Tract.
Mote BleachWatch Website
Mote Coral Health & Disease Team
The Coral Health & Disease Research Program at Mote Marine Laboratory is dedicated to understanding and mitigating the threats facing coral reefs, particularly in Florida. Under the leadership of Dr. Erinn Muller, the team employs a multifaceted approach, combining field surveys, laboratory experiments, and molecular techniques to study coral susceptibility and resilience to stressors like climate change and disease. Collaborating closely with other programs such as Coral Resilience, Reproduction, and Restoration, they aim to enhance reef biodiversity and promote long-term ecosystem health.
Advocate for Coral Conservation & Restoration
Dive into the world of coral biology and discover why these vibrant ecosystems are so important! Learn about the amazing work of the Mote Coral Restoration Team, from growing corals in nurseries to planting them back on the reef, helping restore these underwater cities. Explore coral conservation, bleaching, and restoration efforts, and gain the tools to spread awareness, inspire action, and support healthy reefs for generations to come.
Learn more about coral restoration at Mote
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With Genially's templates, you can include visual resources to leave your audience amazed. You can also highlight a specific phrase or data that will be etched in the memory of your audience, and even embed external content that surprises: videos, photos, audios... Whatever you want!
High Water Temperature
Recovery Potential
VS
A bleached coral is not necessarily dead!
Corals require specific conditions to thrive. Higher water temperatures, even by just a few degrees, cause coral stress.
If water temperatures decrease within a few weeks, bleached corals can reuptake their zooxanthellae and recover.
When stressed, corals expel their zooxanthellae, becoming bright white. Without their main source of energy, they have to rely on filter feeding with their tentacles to survive.
This recovery potential highlights the importance of addressing global climate change rapidly to allow for the recovery of our coral reefs.
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With Genially's templates, you can include visual resources to leave your audience amazed. You can also highlight a specific phrase or data that will remain engraved in the memory of your audience, and even embed external content that surprises: videos, photos, audios... Whatever you want!
Feeling the Heat
Upper Surface Paling
As ocean temperatures rise, corals become stressed. The upper surface begins to pale as some zooxanthellae are expelled. It’s a warning sign that the coral is struggling, but it’s still alive and fighting to survive!
Nematocysts
Nematocysts are stinging cells located in the tentacles, used for feeding and defense. The cells, activated by touch, extend a harpoon-like filament and release toxins to capture prey.
Mote Coral Health & Disease Team
The Coral Health & Disease Research Program at Mote Marine Laboratory is dedicated to understanding and mitigating the threats facing coral reefs, particularly in Florida. Under the leadership of Dr. Erinn Muller, the team employs a multifaceted approach, combining field surveys, laboratory experiments, and molecular techniques to study coral susceptibility and resilience to stressors like climate change and disease. Collaborating closely with other programs such as Coral Resilience, Reproduction, and Restoration, they aim to enhance reef biodiversity and promote long-term ecosystem health.
Stony corals create highly complex shallow water structures, resulting in a massive variety of micro and macro ecosystems that support biodiversity and break up wave energy and action
Stony corals form the base of all coral reefs. Because of their ever-growing calcium carbonate skeletons, the reef continuously grows, recovering its complexity after damage and creating ever-changing ecosystems for the biodiversity reefs support.