The table below shows the maximum depth up to which some shallow water coral species can establish their colonies. depth of colonies species maximum depth w 44 m x 39 m y 48 m z 31 m which coral species is most likely to die out when the surface ocean temperature rises? w x y z

The answer is coral Z. This is because it thrives in the least maximum depth. Shallow coral is vulnerable to changes in the sea surface temperatures that is caused a phenomenon called coral bleaching. Coral bleaching is the expulsion of zooxanthellae by coral-polyp from their symbiotic relationship. This causes the eventual death of the coral.  The temperatures in oceans vary with depth since the sun rays can only penetrate to a certain depth (this is why it gets colder with the depth of the ocean).