![]() Waters that get too warm cause corals to expel their colorful algae and turn white. Still, Johnston said that’s among her top concerns for the sanctuary’s future. The sanctuary had some moderate bleaching this year but nothing like the devastation that hit other reefs during the summer’s record-breaking heat. “To see that much coral in one place is really magnificent - an experience that most people don’t get on reefs in this day and age,” said Michelle Johnston, the acting superintendent and research coordinator for the federally protected area. But scientists say that like all reefs, they are fragile, and their location will only offer protection for so long in the face of a warming climate. Sheltered in a deep, cool habitat far from shore, the reefs in the Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary boast a stunning amount of coral coverage. ![]() Some of the world’s healthiest coral reefs can be found in the Gulf of Mexico, about 100 miles (160 kilometers) off the Texas coast. ![]()
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