Underlying drivers of coral reef vulnerability to bleaching in the Mesoamerican Reef.

ABSTRACT: Coral bleaching, a consequence of stressed symbiotic relationships between corals and algae, has escalated due to intensified heat stress events driven by climate change. Despite global efforts, current early warning systems lack local precision. Our study, spanning 2015-2017 in the Mesoamerican Reef, revealed prevalent intermediate bleaching, peaking in 2017. By scrutinizing 23 stress exposure and sensitivity metrics, we accurately predicted 75% of bleaching severity variation. Notably, distinct thermal patterns-particularly the climatological seasonal warming rate and various heat stress metrics-emerged as better predictors compared to conventional indices (such as Degree Heating Weeks). Surprisingly, deeper reefs with diverse coral communities showed heightened vulnerability. This study

SUBMITTER: Muniz-Castillo AI 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11541557 | biostudies-literature | 2024 Nov

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature