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A global analysis of coral bleaching over the past two decades

Author

Listed:
  • S. Sully

    (150 West University Blvd.)

  • D. E. Burkepile

    (University of California
    University of California)

  • M. K. Donovan

    (University of California)

  • G. Hodgson

    (Reef Check Foundation 13723 Fiji Way)

  • R. van Woesik

    (150 West University Blvd.)

Abstract

Thermal-stress events associated with climate change cause coral bleaching and mortality that threatens coral reefs globally. Yet coral bleaching patterns vary spatially and temporally. Here we synthesize field observations of coral bleaching at 3351 sites in 81 countries from 1998 to 2017 and use a suite of environmental covariates and temperature metrics to analyze bleaching patterns. Coral bleaching was most common in localities experiencing high intensity and high frequency thermal-stress anomalies. However, coral bleaching was significantly less common in localities with a high variance in sea-surface temperature (SST) anomalies. Geographically, the highest probability of coral bleaching occurred at tropical mid-latitude sites (15–20 degrees north and south of the Equator), despite similar thermal stress levels at equatorial sites. In the last decade, the onset of coral bleaching has occurred at significantly higher SSTs (∼0.5 °C) than in the previous decade, suggesting that thermally susceptible genotypes may have declined and/or adapted such that the remaining coral populations now have a higher thermal threshold for bleaching.

Suggested Citation

  • S. Sully & D. E. Burkepile & M. K. Donovan & G. Hodgson & R. van Woesik, 2019. "A global analysis of coral bleaching over the past two decades," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 10(1), pages 1-5, December.
  • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:10:y:2019:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-019-09238-2
    DOI: 10.1038/s41467-019-09238-2
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    Cited by:

    1. Nathalie Hilmi & Ritu Basu & Matías Crisóstomo & Lara Lebleu & Joachim Claudet & Davide Seveso, 2023. "The pressures and opportunities for coral reef preservation and restoration in the Maldives," Post-Print hal-04033524, HAL.
    2. Alice Rouan & Melanie Pousse & Nadir Djerbi & Barbara Porro & Guillaume Bourdin & Quentin Carradec & Benjamin CC. Hume & Julie Poulain & Julie Lê-Hoang & Eric Armstrong & Sylvain Agostini & Guillem Sa, 2023. "Telomere DNA length regulation is influenced by seasonal temperature differences in short-lived but not in long-lived reef-building corals," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 14(1), pages 1-15, December.
    3. Antonio Mileti & Daniele Arduini & Gordon Watson & Adriana Giangrande, 2022. "Blockchain Traceability in Trading Biomasses Obtained with an Integrated Multi-Trophic Aquaculture," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(1), pages 1-14, December.
    4. Nan Hu & Paul E. Bourdeau & Johan Hollander, 2024. "Responses of marine trophic levels to the combined effects of ocean acidification and warming," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 15(1), pages 1-13, December.
    5. Alex S. J. Wyatt & James J. Leichter & Libe Washburn & Li Kui & Peter J. Edmunds & Scott C. Burgess, 2023. "Hidden heatwaves and severe coral bleaching linked to mesoscale eddies and thermocline dynamics," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 14(1), pages 1-17, December.
    6. K. M. Quigley & M. J. H. Oppen, 2022. "Predictive models for the selection of thermally tolerant corals based on offspring survival," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 13(1), pages 1-13, December.
    7. Carlo Fezzi & Mauro Derek J. Ford & Kirsten L.L. Oleson, 2022. "The economic value of coral reefs: climate change impacts and spatial targeting of restoration measures," DEM Working Papers 2022/5, Department of Economics and Management.
    8. Liam Lachs & Simon D. Donner & Peter J. Mumby & John C. Bythell & Adriana Humanes & Holly K. East & James R. Guest, 2023. "Emergent increase in coral thermal tolerance reduces mass bleaching under climate change," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 14(1), pages 1-10, December.
    9. Lewis A. Jones & Philip D. Mannion & Alexander Farnsworth & Fran Bragg & Daniel J. Lunt, 2022. "Climatic and tectonic drivers shaped the tropical distribution of coral reefs," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 13(1), pages 1-10, December.
    10. Thomas W. Davies & Oren Levy & Svenja Tidau & Laura Fernandes Barros Marangoni & Joerg Wiedenmann & Cecilia D’Angelo & Tim Smyth, 2023. "Global disruption of coral broadcast spawning associated with artificial light at night," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 14(1), pages 1-7, December.
    11. Laura Baldassarre & Hua Ying & Adam M. Reitzel & Sören Franzenburg & Sebastian Fraune, 2022. "Microbiota mediated plasticity promotes thermal adaptation in the sea anemone Nematostella vectensis," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 13(1), pages 1-13, December.
    12. Fezzi, Carlo & Ford, Derek J. & Oleson, Kirsten L.L., 2023. "The economic value of coral reefs: Climate change impacts and spatial targeting of restoration measures," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 203(C).

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