Dataset Information

A global database on coral recovery following marine heatwaves.

ABSTRACT: Coral reefs support the world's most diverse marine ecosystem and provide invaluable goods and services for millions of people worldwide. They are however experiencing frequent and intensive marine heatwaves that are causing coral bleaching and mortality. Coarse-grained climate models predict that few coral reefs will survive the 3 °C sea-surface temperature rise in the coming century. Yet, field studies show localized pockets of coral survival and recovery even under high-temperature conditions. Quantifying recovery from marine heatwaves is central to making accurate predictions of coral-reef trajectories into the near future. Here we introduce the world's most comprehensive database on coral recovery following marine heatwaves and other disturbances, called Heatwaves and Coral-Recovery Database (HeatCRD) encompassing 29,205 data records spanning 44 years from 12,266 sites, 83 countries, and 160 data sources. These data provide essential information to coral-reef scientists and managers to best guide coral-reef conservation efforts at both local and regional scales.

SUBMITTER: van Woesik R

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11009248 | biostudies-literature | 2024 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature

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A global database on coral recovery following marine heatwaves.

van Woesik Robert R Kratochwill Chelsey C

Scientific data 20240411 1

Coral reefs support the world's most diverse marine ecosystem and provide invaluable goods and services for millions of people worldwide. They are however experiencing frequent and intensive marine heatwaves that are causing coral bleaching and mortality. Coarse-grained climate models predict that few coral reefs will survive the 3 °C sea-surface temperature rise in the coming century. Yet, field studies show localized pockets of coral survival and recovery even under high-temperature conditions ...[more]

PMID: 38605060

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Project description:Marine heatwaves (MHWs) are increasing in frequency and intensity. Coral reefs are particularly susceptible to MHWs, which cause mass coral bleaching and mortality. However, little is known about how MHWs affect coral reef fishes. Here, we investigated how MHWs affect the physiology of a coral reef mesopredator, Lutjanus carponotatus. Specifically, we exposed mature adults to two different MHW intensities, +1°C (29.5°C) and + 2°C (30.5°C) and measured physiological performance at 2 and 4 weeks of exposure and at 2 weeks post-exposure. At these time points, we measured oxygen consumption at rest and after a simulated fishing capture event, recovery time, excess post-exercise oxygen consumption (EPOC) and associated biochemical markers in the blood (baseline lactate, post-capture lactate, glucose, haemoglobin levels and haematocrit proportion). We found that 2 weeks of exposure to MHW conditions increased resting oxygen consumption (+1°C = 23%, +2°C = 37%), recovery time (+1°C = 62%, +2°C = 77%), EPOC (+1°C = 50%, +2°C = 68%), baseline lactate (+1°C = 27%, +2°C = 28%), post-capture lactate (+1°C = 62%, +2°C = 109%) and haemoglobin levels (+1°C = 13%, +2°C = 28%). This pattern was maintained at 4 weeks of exposure except for post-capture lactate which was reduced (+1°C = -37%, +2°C = 27%). In combination, these results suggest a greater reliance on anaerobic glycolysis to maintain homeostasis in MHW conditions. At 2 weeks post-exposure, when compared to control fish, we found that capture oxygen consumption was increased (+1°C = 25%, +2°C = 26%), recovery rate was increased (+2°C = 38%) and haemoglobin was still higher (+1°C = 15%, +2°C = 21%). These results show that MHW conditions have direct physiological demands on adult coral reef snapper and ecologically relevant residual effects can last for at least 2 weeks post-MHW; however, individuals appear to recover from the negative effects experienced during the MHW. This provides new insight into the effects of MHWs on the physiological performance of coral reef fishes.

Dataset Information

A global database on coral recovery following marine heatwaves.

Publications

A global database on coral recovery following marine heatwaves.

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