Q
Do corals feel pain when they bleach?
A
Expert Answer
Coral bleaching (expelling symbiotic algae due to heat stress) is a stress response, but whether corals 'feel' anything is unknown. They lack nervous systems. Bleaching can lead to death if prolonged, making it an ecological emergency even if we can't know the coral's experience.
Key Insight
Coral bleaching (expelling symbiotic algae due to heat stress) is a stress response, but whether corals 'feel' anything is unknown.
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