We are the SPIDERS (Super Powerful Intelligent Determined Energetic Robot Scientists!) robotics team, which is made up of home-schooled children between the ages of 10-13. This year, our team's research project for the FIRST (For Inspirations in Robotics and Science Technology) Lego League tournament was on coral reef bleaching. We learned that coral reefs are very important to our everyday lives and we should do our best to protect them. Therefore, we want members of the public to know about coral reef bleaching and how they can help.

There are many different stresses that can cause coral reefs to bleach; a major natural cause is unusually high water temperature. When water temperature becomes too high, the algae that live within the coral tissue are no longer able to cope and are expelled from the coral reef. When the coral loses its algae, the white skeleton, which is visible through the clear coral tissue, appears bleached. If the corals bleach, then the fishes that live in the coral will die.

So what causes high water temperature? The leading cause is an El Nino Southern Oscillation, which is a disruption in the normal wind and ocean circulation that affects the climate worldwide.

Coral reefs are an indicator of our oceans' health. It is important that we keep a close eye on reefs as a marker for dramatic climate events, such as El Nino. We depend on a healthy ocean to regulate our climate and to provide us food. Many of us enjoy ocean activities, such as surfing, diving and fishing, and we want many generations to come to enjoy them, too. Also, many people aren't aware that coral reef plants and animals are an important source of new medicines that are being developed to treat many diseases such as cancer, arthritis and heart disease.

Hawaii depends on tourism. Our tourists love the ocean. Hotels, restaurants and other businesses receive millions of dollars from diving tours, fishing trips and other forms of ocean recreation. Healthy coral reefs support a healthy tourism industry. In addition to rising ocean temperatures, coral reefs are also threatened by pollution, disease and habitat destruction.

How can everyone help to protect our reefs? A good way to play your part is to get involved in monthly beach clean-ups. Getting rid of trash will mean less pollution out at sea. Another good way is to get involved in Reef Check, a nonprofit organization that depends on volunteers to give feedback on the conditions of the reefs. To learn more, visit www. reefcheckhawaii.org. When you go to buy seafood, use Seafood Watch's pocket guide (available at reefcheckhawaii.org) that tells you which seafood to avoid and good alternatives. This helps to support environmentally friendly fisheries and to maintain a healthy ocean ecosystem.

The Crown of Thorns sea star, found in Australia, is a star fish that eats coral from the reef. After flipping its stomach inside out over the living coral tissue, it secretes enzymes that dissolve the coral tissue. Overpopulation of the Crown of Thorns in the Great Barrier Reef has resulted in the death of a significant amount of coral. A possible reason that this sea star has threatened the reef so much is the absence of some of its fish predators from overfishing. This is a good example of an anthropogenic (man-caused) reef stressor. And, unfortunately, there are many other examples of overfishing and poor fishing practices that are hurting the coral reef.

By everyone doing their part, we can protect these valuable coral reef ecosystems for generations to come.