Question

High water temperatures can cause coral bleaching, which often leads to coral death. In coral reefs that experience repeated bleaching, there can be substantial algal growth on dead coral, eventually leading to an algal dominated ecosystem. Such a transformation is known as

• A. adaptive radiation
• B. coral transplantation
• C. coral recruitment
• D. phase shift

Hint:

A phase shift marks a significant ecological transformation, often triggered by disturbances such as coral bleaching.

Answer 1

The Correct Option is D

Step 1: Understanding phase shift.
A phase shift in ecology refers to a significant change in the structure of an ecosystem. In this case, the coral ecosystem transforms into an algal-dominated one due to repeated bleaching events, resulting in a change from coral dominance to algae dominance. 
Step 2: Explanation of the other options.
Adaptive radiation refers to the rapid evolution of new species from a common ancestor.
Coral transplantation is a conservation method used to move coral from one area to another.
Coral recruitment refers to the process by which new corals settle and grow on reefs.