Spatial and temporal patterns of mass bleaching of corals in the Anthropocene

Abstract

Not enough time for recovery Coral bleaching occurs when stressful conditions result in the expulsion of the algal partner from the coral. Before anthropogenic climate warming, such events were relatively rare, allowing for recovery of the reef between events. Hughes et al. looked at 100 reefs globally and found that the average interval between bleaching events is now less than half what it was before. Such narrow recovery windows do not allow for full recovery. Furthermore, warming events such as El Niño are warmer than previously, as are general ocean conditions. Such changes are likely to make it more and more difficult for reefs to recover between stressful events. Science , this issue p. 80

Keywords

Affiliated Institutions

• Australian Institute of Marine Science AU
• National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration US
• The University of Queensland AU
• ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies AU
• Curtin University AU
• King Abdullah University of Science and Technology SA
• Australian Research Council AU
• James Cook University AU
• The University of Western Australia AU
• Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions AU
• Queensland Museum AU
• Lancaster University GB
• University of Victoria CA

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