Climate change has had a major effect on coral reefs in the archipelago. Rising sea temperatures cause the corals to bleach as the symbiotic algae within the reef are sensitive to temperature, light exposure and acidity. Depleting algae and coral can result in a loss of vital habitats for a variety of marine species.There were major bleaching events in 2015 and 2016 that resulted in widespread mortality of corals in the Chagos Archipelago and was recorded as the second major event of its kind since 1998. More information can be found in this link: http://www.ukotcf.org/SOWG/SOWG_10_Oct2016.pdf