Changing ocean conditions, including increases in water temperature and heat stress events that lead to coral bleaching, can dramatically alter ecosystem function as well as diminish the goods and services coral reef ecosystems provide to people. Sustained resilience of coral reef ecosystems to these threats will depend on multiple factors, including limiting corals’ exposure to heat stress and acidification and improving their adaptation to changing conditions.
EXAMPLE PROJECTS
National
NOAA Coral Reef Watch: Satellite and Model-Based Products for Coral Reef Ecosystem Managers
Atlantic / Caribbean
Reef persistence evaluator: a decision-support tool for management interventions to preserve essential habitat
Pacific
Patterns, trends, and future projections in Pacific coral reef carbonate budgets