This is SeaTalk: Ocean News from the University of Delaware.

You’ve probably heard of corals, the marine organisms that make up many of the world’s reefs, especially in tropical waters. Did you know that corals are inhabited by tiny plants known as algae? This living arrangement is beneficial to both – the algae provide the corals with nutrients and energy, while the corals provide the algae with nutrients and a place to live. According to scientists, this delicate relationship can be sensitive to changes in the environment, and especially to changes in temperature. Working with an international team of marine biologists, a UD researcher found that changes in sea-surface temperature — like those predicted from climate warming — can kill some algae. Without their algae partners, the coral also can become weakened and die. This can affect fish and other wildlife that depend on the coral reef for food and shelter.

This is SeaTalk, a public service announcement from the University of Delaware, the Delaware Sea Grant College Program, and this station.