Mesophotic reefs offer thermal refuge to the 2023 Caribbean mass bleaching event in the Cayman Islands.

ABSTRACT: Coral reefs are increasingly threatened by marine heatwaves, which drive widespread coral bleaching and mortality. Mesophotic coral ecosystems (MCEs) have been proposed as potential thermal refuges due to their greater depth and relative isolation from surface temperature extremes. Yet their resilience to extreme heat events remains uncertain, with location specific conclusions, thus requiring further studies. Here, we investigate the effects of the 2023 marine heatwave in the Cayman Islands, which resulted in prolonged sea surface temperatures exceeding 31 °C and 17.5 DHW with extensive bleaching across shallow coral reefs. Utilizing vertical transect surveys from 10 m to 50 m, we assessed depth-related variations in bleaching prevalence and temperature profiles. Our results indicate a si

SUBMITTER: Goodbody-Gringley G 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12069601 | biostudies-literature | 2025 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature