Coral bleaching refers to the loss of color of corals due to stress-induced expulsion of photosynthesizing symbiotic unicellular algae called zooxanthellae. This stress-induced loss leads to a lighter or completely white appearance, hence the term "bleached".

Coral bleaching is a vivid sign of corals responding to stress, which can be induced by any of the following factors. Some are anthropogenic, while others occur naturally:

• increased water temperatures (often attributed to global warming)
• starvation caused by a decline in zooplankton levels as a result of overfishing.
• changes in water chemistry
• sedimentation
• pathogen infections

This LAS is currently being developed.