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Research papers on Coral reef bleaching

Recent and highly-cited academic work on coral reef bleaching, gathered from Semantic Scholar, CrossRef and OpenAlex.

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  3. Nearshore Turbid-Zone Corals Exhibit High Bleaching Tolerance on the Great Barrier Reef Following the 2016 Ocean Warming Event

    K. Morgan, C. Perry, Jamie A. Johnson, et al. · 2017 · Frontiers in Marine Science · 154 citations

    High sea surface temperatures (SSTs) on the Great Barrier Reef (GBR) during summer 2015/2016 caused extensive coral bleaching, with aerial and in-water surveys confirming high (but variable) bleaching-related coral mortality. In contrast, bleaching impacts on nearshore turbid-zone reefs, traditionally considered more “marginal” coral habitats, remain poorly documented. This is because rapid ecological surveys are difficult in these turbid water settings, and baseline coral community data from which to quantify disturbance are rare. However, models suggest that the extreme environmental conditions characteristic of nearshore settings (e.g., fluctuating turbidity, light and temperature) may ac

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  4. Coral reefs benefit from reduced land–sea impacts under ocean warming

    J. Gove, Gareth J. Williams, Joey Lecky, et al. · 2023 · Nature · 116 citations

    Surveys of reef change are combined with a unique 20-year time series of land–sea human impacts and the results show that integrated land–sea management could help achieve coastal ocean conservation goals and provide coral reefs with the best opportunity to persist in our changing climate. Coral reef ecosystems are being fundamentally restructured by local human impacts and climate-driven marine heatwaves that trigger mass coral bleaching and mortality^ 1 . Reducing local impacts can increase reef resistance to and recovery from bleaching^ 2 . However, resource managers lack clear advice on targeted actions that best support coral reefs under climate change^ 3 and sector-based governance mea

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  5. 2023 Record marine heat waves: coral reef bleaching HotSpot maps reveal global sea surface temperature extremes, coral mortality, and ocean circulation changes

    Thomas J F Goreau, R. Hayes · 2024 · Oxford Open Climate Change · 64 citations

    Coral reefs, the most sensitive ecosystem to high temperature, are on the precipice of mass extinction from global warming [1, 2]. 2023 was the hottest year in recorded history on land and in the sea, with dramatic and unexpected temperature increases [3, 4]. Coral Reef Bleaching HotSpot maps provide unique insight into global ocean circulation changes in response to greenhouse gas (GHG) forcing that caused dramatic global temperature rises [1, 2]. The highest excess daily air temperatures recorded in 175 countries, as well as the most prolonged excessive sea surface temperatures, were centered around Jamaica. 2023 marked the worst coral reef bleaching yet in the Northern Hemisphere, with

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  7. Abundance, size, and survival of recruits of the reef coral Pocillopora acuta under ocean warming and acidification

    K. Bahr, Tiana Tran, Christopher P. Jury, et al. · 2020 · PLoS ONE · 44 citations

    Ocean warming and acidification are among the greatest threats to coral reefs. Massive coral bleaching events are becoming increasingly common and are predicted to be more severe and frequent in the near future, putting corals reefs in danger of ecological collapse. This study quantified the abundance, size, and survival of the coral Pocillopora acuta under future projections of ocean warming and acidification. Flow-through mesocosms were exposed to current and future projections of ocean warming and acidification in a factorial design for 22 months. Neither ocean warming or acidification, nor their combination, influenced the size or abundance of P. acuta recruits, but heating impacted subs

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  9. Effects of ocean warming and coral bleaching on aerosol emissions in the Great Barrier Reef, Australia

    R. Jackson, A. Gabric, R. Cropp · 2018 · Scientific Reports · 33 citations

    It is proposed that emissions of volatile sulfur compounds by coral reefs contribute to the formation of a biologically-derived feedback on sea surface temperature (SST) through the formation of marine biogenic aerosol (MBA). The direction and strength of this feedback remains uncertain and constitutes a fundamental constraint on predicting the ability of corals to cope with future ocean warming. We investigate the effects of elevated SST and irradiance on satellite-derived fine-mode aerosol optical depth (AOD) throughout the Great Barrier Reef, Australia (GBR) over an 18-year time period. AOD is positively correlated with SST and irradiance and increases two-fold during spring and summer wi

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  10. Severe and widespread coral reef damage during the 2014-2017 Global Coral Bleaching Event

    C. Eakin, S. Heron, Sean R. Connolly, et al. · 2026 · Nature Communications · 29 citations

    Ocean warming is increasing the frequency, extent, and severity of tropical-coral bleaching and mortality. During 2014–2017, marine heatwaves caused the Third Global Coral Bleaching Event. We analyze data from 15,066 reef surveys globally during 2014–2017. Across all surveyed reefs, 80% and 35% experienced moderate or greater (affecting >10% of corals) bleaching and mortality, respectively. We assess the global extent of coral bleaching and mortality by applying bleaching response curves calibrated from surveyed reefs to predict bleaching globally, based on comprehensive remote-sensing of heat stress. These models predict that 51% and 15% of the world’s coral reefs suffered moderate or great

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  11. Ocean acidification elicits differential bleaching and gene expression patterns in larval reef coral Pocillopora damicornis under heat stress.

    Lei Jiang, You-Fang Sun, Guowei Zhou, et al. · 2022 · The Science of the total environment · 26 citations

    The successful dispersal of coral larvae is vital to the population replenishment and reef recovery and resilience. Despite that this critical early stage is susceptible to ocean warming and acidification, little is known about the responses of coral larvae to warming and acidification across different biological scales. This study explored the influences of elevated temperature (29 °C versus 33 °C) and pCO2 (500 μatm versus 1000 μatm) on brooded larvae of Pocillopora damicornis at the organismal, cellular and gene expression levels. Heat stress caused bleaching, depressed light-enhanced dark respiration, photosynthesis and autotrophy, whereas high pCO2 stimulated photosynthesis. Although su

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  15. What is the evidence for the impact of ocean warming on subtropical and temperate corals and coral reefs? A systematic map

    M. Ho, M. Lagisz, Shinichi Nakagawa, et al. · 2024 · Environmental Evidence · 8 citations

    Subtropical coral reefs are comparatively understudied compared to tropical coral reef ecosystems, yet also host a diverse and abundant array of marine life and provide substantial socio-economic benefits to communities. Research into the impacts of ocean warming on subtropical coral reefs has increased over the past two decades due to increase frequency and intensity of bleaching and degradation of these ecosystems. Understanding the extent of research effort and type of evidence assessing the response of subtropical corals and reefs to ocean warming provides valuable insight into global patterns in research efforts allowing critical knowledge gaps to be identified. A comprehensive understa

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  16. Occurrence and Prediction of Coral Bleaching Based on Ocean Surface Temperature Anomalies and Global Warming in Indonesian Waters

    B. H. Gusviga, Subiyanto, Ibnu Faizal, et al. · 2021 · IOP Conference Series: Earth and Environmental Science · 8 citations

    This study investigates the locations of coral bleaching events in Indonesia based on the Sea Surface Temperature Anomaly (SSTA) from the 2015-2019 period. SST was downloaded from the satellite with a resolution of 4 km. The method used was the Hotspot Index and Degree Heating Week issued by the National Ocean Atmospheric Administrations (NOAA) through the Coral Reef Watch (CRW) program. Results obtained from the Hotspots index shows that almost all Indonesian waters have the potential to experience coral bleaching and the area that has a high potential is West Sumatra with the Death Index Degree Heating Week reaching 8-12 °C - weeks with Alert Level 2 status. an increase in temperature by 1

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  17. Coral and reef fish community recovery following the 2010 extreme ocean warming event (mass bleaching event) at Thailand

    K. Jaroensutasinee, Sirirat Somchuea, M. Jaroensutasinee · 2021 · Journal of Animal Behaviour and Biometeorology · 7 citations

    Coral reefs are very complex marine ecosystems, where fish diversity is very high (Hermelin-Vivien 1989; Moberg and Folke 1999). Coral reefs host approximately 5,000 marine fish species with an occupying ocean space of less than 0.1% (Helfman et al 1997). These reefs provide refuge and nursery or settlement habitats for various fish species (Harrington et al 2004; Mumby et al 2004). In the past few decades, live coral has experienced unprecedented loss causing the reef fish species to decline in diversity and abundance. Anthropogenic changes such as ocean acidification, climate change, fishing, nutrient loading, introduced species, disease, and overgrowing tourism especially with diving tour

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  18. Impacts of ocean warming and acidification on calcifying coral reef taxa: mechanisms responsible and adaptive capacity.

    C. Cornwall, S. Comeau, H. Putnam, et al. · 2022 · Emerging topics in life sciences · 6 citations

    Ocean warming (OW) and acidification (OA) are two of the greatest global threats to the persistence of coral reefs. Calcifying reef taxa such as corals and coralline algae provide the essential substrate and habitat in tropical reefs but are at particular risk due to their susceptibility to both OW and OA. OW poses the greater threat to future reef growth and function, via its capacity to destabilise the productivity of both taxa, and to cause mass bleaching events and mortality of corals. Marine heatwaves are projected to increase in frequency, intensity, and duration over the coming decades, raising the question of whether coral reefs will be able to persist as functioning ecosystems and i

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  19. Combined Role of the MJO and ENSO in Shaping Extreme Warming Patterns and Coral Bleaching Risk in the Great Barrier Reef

    Catherine H. Gregory, N. Holbrook, C. Spillman, et al. · 2024 · Geophysical Research Letters · 6 citations

    Local meteorology over the Great Barrier Reef (GBR) can significantly influence ocean temperatures, which in turn impacts coral ecosystems. While El Niño–Southern Oscillation (ENSO) provides insight into the expected synoptic states, it lacks details of anticipated sub‐seasonal weather variability at local scales. This study explores the influence of the Madden‐Julian oscillation (MJO) on Australian tropical climate, both independently and in combination with ENSO, focusing on GBR impacts. We find that during El Niño periods, including the summer of 2009/10, faster propagating MJO patterns can disrupt background warm, dry conditions, and potentially provide cooling relief via increased cloud

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  21. Coral Reef Bleaching Crisis: Impacts on Indonesia's Marine Ecosystems and Coastal Economy

    A. Susanti, Friska Silaban, Lambok Febryan Aritonang, et al. · 2025 · Journal of Maritime Policy Science · 5 citations

    Indonesia, as the world’s largest archipelagic state, is home to vast marine biodiversity, particularly coral reefs that support more than 25% of marine species despite covering less than 1% of the ocean floor. However, these vital ecosystems are increasingly threatened by climate-induced stressors such as rising sea surface temperatures and anthropogenic pressures including pollution, destructive fishing practices, and coastal development. The most visible manifestation of this crisis is coral bleaching, which compromises reef health and biodiversity. This study aims to explore the ecological and economic impacts of coral reef bleaching in Indonesia and propose strategic responses for susta

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  22. Ocean Warming, Heat Stress, and Coral Bleaching in Puerto Rico

    Carla L. Mejias-Rivera, T. Courtney · 2024 · Caribbean Journal of Science · 4 citations

    Abstract Ocean warming threatens the provisioning of coral reef ecosystem services through the increasing frequency and intensity of coral bleaching and associated mortality events. Here, we quantified sea surface temperature warming trends and maximum annual degree heating weeks (DHW) from the NOAA Coral Reef Watch CoralTemp station-level data for Puerto Rico (1985–2023) and paired this with a review of coral bleaching observations to inform management and restoration efforts. Every region in Puerto Rico warmed at rates surpassing the hypothesized 0.10° C per decade rate of coral adaptation and acclimatization, with warming rates increasing from 0.154 ± 0.005° C per decade in the west to 0.

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  23. Gene expression of Pocillopora damicornis coral larvae in response to acidification and ocean warming

    You-Fang Sun, Yi Lan, N. Rädecker, et al. · 2024 · BMC Genomic Data · 3 citations

    Objectives The endosymbiosis with Symbiodiniaceae is key to the ecological success of reef-building corals. However, climate change is threatening to destabilize this symbiosis on a global scale. Most studies looking into the response of corals to heat stress and ocean acidification focus on coral colonies. As such, our knowledge of symbiotic interactions and stress response in other stages of the coral lifecycle remains limited. Establishing transcriptomic resources for coral larvae under stress can thus provide a foundation for understanding the genomic basis of symbiosis, and its susceptibility to climate change. Here, we present a gene expression dataset generated from larvae of the cora

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