biostudies-literatureUnknown18(2)Greer LLive coral cover has declined precipitously on Caribbean reefs in recent decades. Acropora cervicornis coral has been particularly decimated, and few Western Atlantic Acropora spp. refugia remain. Coral Gardens, Belize, was identified in 2020 as a long-term refugium for this species. This study assesses changes in live A. cervicornis coral abundance over time at Coral Gardens to monitor the stability of A. cervicornis corals, and to explore potential threats to this important refugium. Live coral cover was documented annually from 2012-2019 along five permanent transects. In situ sea-surface temperature data were collected at Coral Gardens throughout the study period and compared with calibrated satellite data to calculate Maximum Monthly Mean (MMM) temperatures and Degree Heating Weeks (DPloS onee0280852https://www.ebi.ac.uk/biostudies/studies/S-EPMC9907857biostudies-literatureCoral Gardens Reef, Belize: An Acropora spp. refugium under threat in a warming world.PMC9907857Curran HALescinsky HGreer LStefanic CHumston RWirth KMcManus LForman-Castillo KClark TJohnson GfalseCoral Gardens Reef, Belize: An Acropora spp. refugium under threat in a warming world.Live coral cover has declined precipitously on Caribbean reefs in recent decades. Acropora cervicornis coral has been particularly decimated, and few Western Atlantic Acropora spp. refugia remain. Coral Gardens, Belize, was identified in 2020 as a long-term refugium for this species. This study assesses changes in live A. cervicornis coral abundance over time at Coral Gardens to monitor the stability of A. cervicornis corals, and to explore potential threats to this important refugium. Live coral cover was documented annually from 2012-2019 along five permanent transects. In situ sea-surface temperature data were collected at Coral Gardens throughout the study period and compared with calibrated satellite data to calculate Maximum Monthly Mean (MMM) temperatures and Degree Heating Weeks (D2023-01-01T00:00:00Z20232025-04-04T23:52:08.77Z2025-04-04T23:52:08.77ZS-EPMC99078573675346810.1371/journal.pone.0280852