Questions 12-15 refer to the following passage.

Select the sentence from the third paragraph that explains why zooxanthellae lose their coloration.

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Scientists are growing increasingly concerned that coral, which grows abundantly in the circumtropical shallow waters near bodies of Line land, is evincing a paling, or bleaching effect. (5) Though experts are still at odds over what has precipitated this event, most agree that it is a stress response to changes in habitat and water quality, including temperature variations and sali- nation percentage, and predict a loss of (10) 95 percent of existing coral populations.