Coral reefs cover a tiny fraction of the ocean floor yet shelter a quarter of all marine species. They are built by tiny animals working in partnership with even tinier algae — a partnership that, under heat stress, can break down and turn a vibrant reef ghostly white. This episode explores how reefs are made, why they bleach, and what's at stake, with an eye to Australia's Great Barrier Reef.

You'll come away understanding what coral actually is, the symbiosis at the heart of every reef, the mechanics of coral bleaching, and why reefs matter far beyond their beauty.

Talking Science is sponsored by Kinsoft. Visit www.kinsoft.com.au

Further reading: Australian Institute of Marine Science – "Coral bleaching"; Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority –  ...