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Responding to increasing frequencies of Coral Bleaching and loss-by Dr. Ranil Senanayake The Threat to Corals Source:Island Coral reefs comprise some of the most biologically diverse and valuable ecosystems on the planet. Although reefs occupy only 0.2 percent of the ocean’s area worldwide, they are home to one-third of all sea life. and support more species per unit area than any other marine environment, including about 4,000 species of fish, 800 species of hard corals.  It is estimated that there are 8 million (8,000,000) undiscovered plants and animals that may live in or near coral reefs. While the optimum temperature for coral growth is around 25 °C , although some species can survive temperatures up to 35 0 C. However once corals are established in a stable environment, a temperature increase of just one degree Celsius for only four weeks can trigger bleaching. Global warming is considered to be the ...