Major bleaching events can lead to increased thermal tolerance in corals |
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Authors: | J A Maynard K R N Anthony P A Marshall I Masiri |
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Institution: | (1) Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority, 2-68 Flinders St, Townsville, QLD, 4810, Australia;(2) Australian Centre of Excellence for Risk Analysis, School of Botany, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, 3010, Australia;(3) Centre for Marine Studies, ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, The University of Queensland, St Lucia, QLD, 4072, Australia;(4) School of Geography and Environmental Studies, University of Tasmania, Hobart, TAS, 7001, Australia |
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Abstract: | Climate change is a major threat to coral reef ecosystems worldwide. A key determinant of the fate of reef corals in a warming
climate is their capacity to tolerate increasing thermal stress. Here, an increase in thermal tolerance is demonstrated for
three major coral genera (Acropora, Pocillopora and Porites) following the extensive mass bleaching event that occurred on the Great Barrier Reef (Australia) in 1998. During the subsequent
and more severe thermal stress event in 2002, bleaching severity was 30–100% lower than predicted from the relationship between
severity and thermal stress in 1998, despite higher solar irradiances during the 2002 thermal event. Coral genera most susceptible
to thermal stress (Pocillopora and Acropora) showed the greatest increase in tolerance. Although bleaching was severe in 1998, whole-colony mortality was low at most
study sites. Therefore, observed increases in thermal tolerance cannot be explained by selective mortality alone, suggesting
a capacity for acclimatization or adaptation. Although the vulnerability of coral reefs remains largely dependent on the rate
and extent of climate change, such increase in thermal tolerance may delay the onset of mass coral mortalities in time for
the implementation of low-emission scenarios and effective management. |
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