Integrating an Eco-Evolutionary Perspective for Coral Reef Resistance Into Global Conservation Planning and Policy

Abstract

Global responses to climate change vary across ecosystems. Identifying coral reefs that can persist despite extreme warming is crucial for guiding research, policy, and management. Resilience frameworks recommend protecting potential reef sanctuaries with specific attributes, including climate avoidance, rapid recovery, or resistance. However, climate-avoidant reefs are dwindling, and recovery times are lengthening. We propose that resistance should be the cornerstone of reef resilience planning. A literature synthesis reveals that the definition and application of “reef resistance” are highly variable, limiting its effectiveness in management and policy. Over 85% of sources suggest that evolutionary processes contribute to resistance, but there is considerable variability in other cited ecological factors. We highlight a mismatch between implied mechanisms and actual data, with only ∼25% of studies linking resistance to relevant coral adaptation or acclimatization data. To address this, we propose a standardized definition of heat-resistant reefs based on adaptation and acclimatization principles: reefs characterized by corals whose underlying genetics enable survival beyond previous thermal limits. This approach will enhance the effective allocation of limited resources for measuring, protecting, and managing reefs, as we strive to halt the human-induced emissions driving their decline.