Anemone (Aiptasia pallida)
This healthy specimen of an anemone was photographed at Stanford University's Pringle lab which studies coral bleaching. Increasing ocean temperature and pollution cause “bleaching,” whereby corals and anemones lose the algae from their tissues and thus their distinctive coloration. Without these symbiotic organisms, the host animal struggles to survive, and, unless the process is reversed, will die. You can learn more about how the world’s coral reefs are changing and adapting in vedphoto’s upcoming Reactive Reefs exhibition at www.vedphoto.com/reactive-reefs