Increasing Coral Reef Resilience Through Successive Marine Heatwaves

A study of the Phoenix Islands Protected Area (PIPA) reveals that coral reefs are becoming more resilient to marine heatwaves over time. Analyzing an 18-year record of coral cover across three major bleaching events, researchers found that coral mortality due to thermal stress has decreased in recent heatwaves compared to earlier ones. This suggests that selective survival through successive heatwaves may be shaping the coral community's response to future warming. The findings highlight the potential for corals to adapt under repeated thermal stress and underscore the importance of identifying conditions that facilitate coral survival and recovery to effectively manage reefs amid climate change.

Fox, M. D., Cohen, A. L., Rotjan, R. D., Mangubhai, S., Sandin, S. A., Smith, J. E., Thorrold, S. R., Dissly, L., Mollica, N. R., & Obura, D. (2021). Increasing Coral Reef Resilience Through Successive Marine Heatwaves. Geophysical Research Letters, 48(17). Portico. https://doi.org/10.1029/2021gl094128