Coral Reefs in a Changing Climate
Coral reefs are hubs of biodiversity which provide vital ecosystem function and services to both a myriad of marine organisms as well as millions of people globally. Despite the importance of coral reefs being well understood, these ecosystems have shown dramatic degradation, and continue to be bombarded by a variety of anthropogenic stressors – the most concerning of which are climate change-induced ocean warming and marine heatwaves.
Corals live in regions incredibly close to their upper thermal limits, and when things heat up it spells big trouble (i.e. expulsion of their symbiotic algae & coral bleaching). Mass bleaching events and associated coral mortality are expected to increase in scale and frequency if climate change mitigation actions are not implemented - leading many to question the ability of these critical ecosystems to persist into the future.
Corals live in regions incredibly close to their upper thermal limits, and when things heat up it spells big trouble (i.e. expulsion of their symbiotic algae & coral bleaching). Mass bleaching events and associated coral mortality are expected to increase in scale and frequency if climate change mitigation actions are not implemented - leading many to question the ability of these critical ecosystems to persist into the future.
Thermal ToleranceA glimmer of hope in the current coral reef crisis lies in the ability for some corals to resist bleaching. High thermal tolerance may allow selected species and/or reef sites to withstand warming temperatures.
I am interested in examining the mechanisms responsible for coral thermal tolerance, as well as the biotic and abiotic factors that drive the variability in capacity for thermal tolerance. |