extreme temperatures cause the algae to produce harmful chemicals, prompting the coral polyps to kick them out. this is “coral bleaching,” where vibrant polyps turn white from heat stress, a process that can eventually prove fatal. and global warming is already driving vast bleaching events today. sherry: my son is four, as i told you. it's possible that his kids may never see a coral reef. it really scares me to think of a worlwithout coral reefs. reporter: sherry constantine of the nature conservancy has established a large-scale conservation project in the eastern caribbean. the goal was to protect corals and other ecosystems, while still enabling some tourism and fishing in specific areas. sherry: the fact that the community was so involved in the designati, the design of these areas, that is why it was so successful. reporter: there are also plenty of ways to enhance conservation efforts like these. take playing underwater sounds to lure back fish, for one slightly surprising example. and there is evidence that by shielding reefs from local stresses, marine protected areas build

it's easy to forget that they're actually built from tiny animals. coral polyps, corals a great deal of their magic and their beautiful color to a complex cooperation between organisms. algae live in the polyps, tissues and provide nutrients to the coral in exchange for protection. but this delicate teamwork is under threat from climate change. c, o 2 emissions dissolve in the seas, making water is more acidic and weakening coral skeletons. and that's not all as global temperatures, sore, coral reefs suffer through ever more frequent and intense ocean heat. waves. extreme temperatures caused the algae to produce harmful chemicals, prompting the coral polyps to kick them out. this is coral bleaching where vibrant polyps turn white from heat stress, a process that can eventually prove fatal. and global warming is already driving vast bleaching events to day. my son is far as i told you, it's possible that his kids may never see a car reef. it really scares me to think of a world without coral rece. sherry constantine of the nature conservancy has established a large scale conservation p

it's easy to forget that they're actually built from tiny animals, coral polyps, corals oh, a great deal of their magic and their beautiful color to a complex cooperation between organisms. algae live in the polyps, tissues and provide nutrients to the coral in exchange for protection. but this delicate teamwork is under threat from climate change. c o 2 emissions dissolve in the seas, making a waters more acidic and weakening coral skeletons. and that's not all. as global temperatures, sore, coral reefs suffer through ever more frequent and intense ocean heat. waves. extreme temperatures caused the algae to produce harmful chemicals, prompting the coral polyps to kick them out. this is coral bleaching where vibrant polyps turn white from heat stress. a process that can eventually prove fatal and global warming is already driving vast, bleaching events to day. my son is far as i told you, it's possible that his kids may never see a car reef. it really scares me to think of a world without coral. reese, sherry konstantin of the nature conservancy has established a large scale conservation