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Offers observations on the Great Barrier Reef, off the coast of Australia, which is considered the largest reef system, and the largest structure built by living organisms. Examination of underwater life on the reef; Diversity of fish and plant life on the reef; Formation of coral reefs from colonies of tropical marine plants and animals with limestone bodies.

The article reports that a bout of coral bleaching is affecting the Great Barrier Reef in Queensland as of April 2006. Scientists have warned that the problem could be as bad as the worst case on record in 2001-2002, when 60 percent of the reef was affected. An international team studying the world's reef explained that for the past four months water temperatures off Australia's northeastern coast have exceeded long-term averages. Bleaching occurs when the zooxanthellae microscopic plants which live in coral tissue and provide it with colour and food stop working due to stress, often as a result of rising temperatures.