Coral ReefsPub Date : 2024-06-04DOI: 10.1007/s00338-024-02515-7
Ashtyn L. Isaak, Maureen Ho, Max S. Dhillon, Maggie D. Johnson, Hildegard Westphal, Steve S. Doo
{"title":"Macroalgal presence decreases coral calcification rates more than ocean acidification","authors":"Ashtyn L. Isaak, Maureen Ho, Max S. Dhillon, Maggie D. Johnson, Hildegard Westphal, Steve S. Doo","doi":"10.1007/s00338-024-02515-7","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s00338-024-02515-7","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Global coral reef degradation has precipitated phase shifts toward macroalgal-dominated communities. Despite the negative repercussions for reefscapes, higher abundances of primary producers have the potential to positively impact the physicochemical environment and mitigate negative impacts of ocean acidification (OA). In this study, we investigated the influence of macroalgal (cf. <i>Sargassum vulgare</i>) density on coral (<i>Acropora millepora</i> and <i>A. hemprichii</i>) calcification rates under current and future OA conditions. Corals were resistant to OA up to ~ 1100 µatm, with no changes in calcification rates. However, the presence of (low and high density) algae reduced calcification rates by ~ 41.8%, suggesting either a chemical defense response due to algal metabolites or potential physical impacts from shading or abrasion. Documented beneficial buffering effects of macroalgae in OA may also elicit negative impacts on coral calcification, suggesting further work is needed to elucidate how species interactions influence responses to projected climate change.</p>","PeriodicalId":10821,"journal":{"name":"Coral Reefs","volume":"68 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.5,"publicationDate":"2024-06-04","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141258922","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Coral ReefsPub Date : 2024-06-03DOI: 10.1007/s00338-024-02503-x
Allison M. Lewis, Caleb C. Butler, Kira E. Turnham, Drew F. Wham, Kenneth D. Hoadley, Robin T. Smith, Dustin W. Kemp, Mark E. Warner, Todd C. LaJeunesse
{"title":"The diversity, distribution, and temporal stability of coral ‘zooxanthellae’ on a pacific reef: from the scale of individual colonies to across the host community","authors":"Allison M. Lewis, Caleb C. Butler, Kira E. Turnham, Drew F. Wham, Kenneth D. Hoadley, Robin T. Smith, Dustin W. Kemp, Mark E. Warner, Todd C. LaJeunesse","doi":"10.1007/s00338-024-02503-x","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s00338-024-02503-x","url":null,"abstract":"<p>The ecological and evolutionary consequences of partner fidelity and flexibility among coral–dinoflagellate mutualisms are widely debated. Resident symbionts can modulate the resilience of their hosts to environmental stressors, which explains, in part, why host–symbiont combinations differ over broad geographic ranges and across physical–environmental gradients in light and temperature. Therefore, flexibility in these mutualisms may influence the longevity of coral populations and communities subjected to ocean warming. However, despite decades of research, basic knowledge about these mutualisms remains incomplete, hindering the development of predictive ecological theory. In particular, few studies have investigated the long-term composition of symbiont populations within individual colonies. To further examine the extent to which coral colonies have stable relationships with specific symbionts over multiple years, diverse coral taxa (Scleractinia) from a West Indo-Pacific fore reef (Palau) were tagged and sampled at various intervals—ranging from six months to several years—over nine years' time. Symbiont identity was examined using multiple genetic markers that resolved symbiont diversity to species and individual genotypes (i.e., clonal strains). Members of the genus <i>Cladocopium</i> (formerly <i>Symbiodinium</i> Clade C) were prevalent across the host community. Generally, corals with open modes of symbiont acquisition harbored a host–generalist symbiont, while corals with vertical symbiont transmission were associated with co-evolved host-specific symbionts. Consistent with previous colony monitoring studies, symbiont populations in a majority of colonies were dominated by one species and one strain (based on multilocus genotyping) over multiple years. Thus, the distribution of symbiont diversity at the genus, species and clone level, comprising specific and stable partner combinations, scale predictably to reef habitat, host taxon, and individual colony. Recognizing these fundamental ecological patterns establishes a more comprehensive understanding of the population and community structure of these mutualisms.</p>","PeriodicalId":10821,"journal":{"name":"Coral Reefs","volume":"4 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.5,"publicationDate":"2024-06-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141258949","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Coral ReefsPub Date : 2024-06-03DOI: 10.1007/s00338-024-02516-6
M. Monti, A. Giorgi, V. J. Paul, S. P. Gunasekera, L. J. Houk, C. Dugan, T. DeMarco, J. B. Olson
{"title":"Natural products from Caribbean octocorals demonstrate bioactivity against Vibrio coralliilyticus strains","authors":"M. Monti, A. Giorgi, V. J. Paul, S. P. Gunasekera, L. J. Houk, C. Dugan, T. DeMarco, J. B. Olson","doi":"10.1007/s00338-024-02516-6","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s00338-024-02516-6","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Caribbean coral reefs are currently facing a rapid decline caused by a plethora of threats including disease outbreaks. Octocorals appear to be unaffected by the majority of diseases impacting scleractinian corals, including stony coral tissue loss disease (SCTLD) that emerged in 2014 and resulted in a mass mortality of scleractinian coral populations inhabiting Florida, the USA, and Caribbean reefs. Although the Caribbean Sea is considered a disease hot spot, few investigations into the mechanism(s) responsible for the resistance of octocorals have been conducted. In response, the capacity for octocoral-derived extracts and natural products to inhibit strains of <i>Vibrio coralliilyticus</i>, pathogenic bacteria that can cause bleaching and disease in stony corals and can co-occur in SCTLD infections, was explored. Extracts obtained from each of the four octocoral species studied demonstrated antimicrobial activity against <i>V. coralliilyticus</i>. Bioassay-guided fractionations of crude extracts from <i>Antillogorgia americana</i> were employed to identify the antimicrobial compounds, revealing the presence of secosterols in the most bioactive fractions. These results suggest that octocoral species may utilize chemical defenses to protect themselves against infection by strains of a known coral pathogen and contribute to the body of knowledge regarding the success of octocorals on Caribbean reefs.</p>","PeriodicalId":10821,"journal":{"name":"Coral Reefs","volume":"35 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.5,"publicationDate":"2024-06-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141258920","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Coral ReefsPub Date : 2024-06-02DOI: 10.1007/s00338-024-02511-x
Caitlin J. Philipps, David R. Bellwood
{"title":"The hydrodynamics of Lizard Island lagoon, Great Barrier Reef","authors":"Caitlin J. Philipps, David R. Bellwood","doi":"10.1007/s00338-024-02511-x","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s00338-024-02511-x","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Hydrodynamic processes are a major driver for marine systems, linking marine organisms with their environment. However, a lack of hydrodynamic data at an ecologically relevant spatial resolution has stymied our understanding of reef function, as exemplified by Lizard Island on the Great Barrier Reef. To address this gap, 23 to 27 Marotte HS current meters were deployed over three periods, collecting 15 months of current velocity data. Combining these data with wind and tide datasets, we provide a preliminary description of the circulation in the Lizard Island lagoon, examining wind and tide influence, and flushing time. During south-easterly trade winds, flood tides flow through the Lagoon Entrance, while wind-induced waves cross the Bird-South crest, driving a north-westerly flow through Loomis Channel and across the western lagoon. Ebb tides flow east–south-east through the Lagoon Entrance and south-west through the Palfrey-South channel. Tides contribute a mean of 20.4% to the overall current speed, particularly in deeper sites with less reef interference, while shallow sites were more influenced by wind. Lizard Island lagoon flushing times ranged from a few hours to 10 days; longer during periods with low wind speeds. Hindcast flushing times during the 2016 coral bleaching event (following 8 Degree Heating Weeks) were approximately 22 h, suggesting that flushing time likely had minimal influence on bleaching. Our analyses provide initial insights into the circulation of the Lizard Island system and aid understanding of the potential relationships between reef organisms and their physical environment, bridging the gap between ecology and hydrodynamics.</p>","PeriodicalId":10821,"journal":{"name":"Coral Reefs","volume":"10 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.5,"publicationDate":"2024-06-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141258996","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Coral ReefsPub Date : 2024-05-31DOI: 10.1007/s00338-024-02510-y
Tullia I. Terraneo, Fanny Houlbreque, Roberto Arrigoni, Benedetta Longari, Michael L. Berumen, Benjamin C. C. Hume, Sylvie Fiat, Riccardo Rodolfo-Metalpa, Claude E. Payri, Christian R. Voolstra, Francesca Benzoni
{"title":"Coral-associated Symbiodiniaceae dynamics during the 2016 mass bleaching event in New Caledonia","authors":"Tullia I. Terraneo, Fanny Houlbreque, Roberto Arrigoni, Benedetta Longari, Michael L. Berumen, Benjamin C. C. Hume, Sylvie Fiat, Riccardo Rodolfo-Metalpa, Claude E. Payri, Christian R. Voolstra, Francesca Benzoni","doi":"10.1007/s00338-024-02510-y","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s00338-024-02510-y","url":null,"abstract":"<p>The ecological success of shallow water corals hinges on their association with photosynthetic Symbiodiniaceae algae. This is affected by environmental drivers among which sea temperature is pivotal. In 2016, a prolonged heat wave challenged New Caledonia reefs triggering a severe bleaching event. Here, we tracked 72 coral colonies comprising two species of <i>Pocillopora</i> and <i>Porites</i> from a cross-shelf gradient during the event and subsequent recovery period. Symbiodiniaceae association over time was assessed using the ITS2 marker. Bleaching prevalence and photosynthetic efficiency showed that 83% of <i>Pocillopora</i> and 29% of <i>Porites</i> colonies were affected, with corals from a mid-shelf site having been most impacted. The majority of tracked colonies recovered by December 2016, with a recorded 33% mortality of <i>Pocillopora,</i> while <i>Porites</i> showed higher resilience. Consistent with previous studies, genotyping data suggest stable, species- and site-specific associations between corals and Symbiodiniaceae.</p>","PeriodicalId":10821,"journal":{"name":"Coral Reefs","volume":"27 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.5,"publicationDate":"2024-05-31","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141190092","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Coral ReefsPub Date : 2024-05-30DOI: 10.1007/s00338-024-02504-w
James Davis Reimer, Raquel S. Peixoto, Sarah W. Davies, Nikki Traylor-Knowles, Morgan L. Short, Rafael A. Cabral-Tena, John A. Burt, Igor Pessoa, Anastazia T. Banaszak, R. Scott Winters, Tom Moore, Verena Schoepf, Deepeeka Kaullysing, Luis E. Calderon-Aguilera, Gert Wörheide, Simon Harding, Vikash Munbodhe, Anderson Mayfield, Tracy Ainsworth, Tali Vardi, C. Mark Eakin, Morgan S. Pratchett, Christian R. Voolstra
{"title":"The Fourth Global Coral Bleaching Event: Where do we go from here?","authors":"James Davis Reimer, Raquel S. Peixoto, Sarah W. Davies, Nikki Traylor-Knowles, Morgan L. Short, Rafael A. Cabral-Tena, John A. Burt, Igor Pessoa, Anastazia T. Banaszak, R. Scott Winters, Tom Moore, Verena Schoepf, Deepeeka Kaullysing, Luis E. Calderon-Aguilera, Gert Wörheide, Simon Harding, Vikash Munbodhe, Anderson Mayfield, Tracy Ainsworth, Tali Vardi, C. Mark Eakin, Morgan S. Pratchett, Christian R. Voolstra","doi":"10.1007/s00338-024-02504-w","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s00338-024-02504-w","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":10821,"journal":{"name":"Coral Reefs","volume":"326 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.5,"publicationDate":"2024-05-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141190143","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Coral ReefsPub Date : 2024-05-30DOI: 10.1007/s00338-024-02500-0
Jesus Reolid, Or M. Bialik, Sebastian Lindhorst, Jan Oliver Eisermann, Alexander Petrovic, Carola Hincke, Robin J. Beaman, Jody M. Webster, Christian Betzler
{"title":"A new type of Halimeda bioherm on the Queensland Plateau, NE Australia","authors":"Jesus Reolid, Or M. Bialik, Sebastian Lindhorst, Jan Oliver Eisermann, Alexander Petrovic, Carola Hincke, Robin J. Beaman, Jody M. Webster, Christian Betzler","doi":"10.1007/s00338-024-02500-0","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s00338-024-02500-0","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Morphology, internal structure, and in situ facies distribution of mesophotic <i>Halimeda</i> bioherms from the Queensland Plateau (NE Australia) are presented based on hydroacoustic and oceanographic data, seafloor observations, and discrete sediment sampling carried out during RV SONNE cruise SO292 in 2022. <i>Halimeda</i> buildups consist of cone-like mounds up to 500 m in diameter and 3–10 m high, with gentle slopes (2°–5° on the top of Tregrosse Bank). Bioherms occur in water depths of 10–70 m, with most bioherm between 50 and 65 m. Their internal structure consists of aggrading low-amplitude reflections at the core of the bioherm interfingering with high-amplitude reflections to the flanks. Surface facies distribution displays one to four facies belts, from distal to proximal: <i>Halimeda</i> rudstone, <i>Halimeda</i> rudstone with living plants, <i>Halimeda</i> rudstone with coralgal debris, and coralgal boundstone (when present, occupied the top of the bioherms). It is proposed that the alternation of two key processes contributes to the formation of these bioherms: (1) in situ accumulation of <i>Halimeda</i> debris and (2) episodic dismantling of the mesophotic coralgal boundstone at the centre of the bioherm by severe storms. These storms may dismantle the mesophotic reef and export coralgal rubble to the flanks. Flanks may be recolonized by <i>Halimeda</i> during fair-weather periods. Due to their different geomorphic expressions, complex internal structure, and surficial facies distribution, we suggest that the buildups of the Queensland Plateau represent a new <i>Halimed</i>a bioherm morphotype, distinct from previously described bioherms on the adjacent Great Barrier Reef and elsewhere globally.</p>","PeriodicalId":10821,"journal":{"name":"Coral Reefs","volume":"21 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.5,"publicationDate":"2024-05-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141190506","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Proton-pumping rhodopsin of the coral symbiont Breviolum minutum and its potential role in coping with phosphorus deficiency in future warmer ocean","authors":"Minglei Ma, Yanchun You, Yulin Huang, Xueqiong Sun, Jiashun Li, Ling Li, Yujie Wang, Senjie Lin","doi":"10.1007/s00338-024-02507-7","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s00338-024-02507-7","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Global warming can inhibit chlorophyll-based solar energy capturing of phytoplankton by decreasing nutrient supply through upwelling. However, species with proton-pump rhodopsin (PPR) can independently convert solar energy to cope with nutrient limitation. Besides prokaryotes, PPR has been documented in dinoflagellates and some species of other algal lineages, and its potential role in compensating for the deficiency of phosphorus has been demonstrated in dinoflagellates. However, PPR has not been studied in the coral reef endosymbiotic Symbiodiniaceae. Here, we report a PPR in <i>Breviolum minutum</i> (<i>Bm</i>R). Both phylogenetic analysis and structure prediction results indicate that <i>Bm</i>R resembles eukaryotic proton-pump rhodopsins, phylogenetically affiliated with the subgroup xanthorhodopsins. <i>Bm</i>R contains the critical residues for proton pumping, retinal binding, and spectrum tuning for green absorption. To explore <i>Bm</i>R’s potential roles in responding to phosphorus limitation, we cultured <i>B. minutum</i> under different phosphorus conditions, and monitored physiological and <i>Bm</i>R’s transcriptional responses. Phosphorus limitation caused decreases in <i>B. minutum</i> population growth and photosynthesis efficiency. Meanwhile, our quantitative PCR showed that <i>Bm</i>R expression was strongly upregulated under phosphorus limitation, showing a strong positive correlation with alkaline phosphatase activity and a negative correlation with photosynthetic efficiency. Our findings demonstrate that proton-pump rhodopsin occurs in Symbiodiniaceae and <i>Bm</i>R has the potential to provide supplementary energy to support cell basal metabolisms when photosynthesis of <i>B. minutum</i> is impaired by phosphorus limitation, thereby enabling corals to better weather climate change.</p>","PeriodicalId":10821,"journal":{"name":"Coral Reefs","volume":"129 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.5,"publicationDate":"2024-05-29","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141167077","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Coral ReefsPub Date : 2024-05-27DOI: 10.1007/s00338-024-02506-8
Sven Uthicke, Jason R. Doyle, Maria Gomez Cabrera, Frances Patel, Madi J. McLatchie, Peter C. Doll, Josie F. Chandler, Morgan S. Pratchett
{"title":"eDNA monitoring detects new outbreak wave of corallivorous seastar (Acanthaster cf. solaris) at Lizard Island, Great Barrier Reef","authors":"Sven Uthicke, Jason R. Doyle, Maria Gomez Cabrera, Frances Patel, Madi J. McLatchie, Peter C. Doll, Josie F. Chandler, Morgan S. Pratchett","doi":"10.1007/s00338-024-02506-8","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s00338-024-02506-8","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Crown-of-thorns seastar (CoTS, <i>Acanthaster</i> cf. <i>solaris</i>) outbreaks remain a significant cause of coral loss on the Great Barrier Reef (GBR) and across the West-Pacific Ocean. Previous outbreaks on the GBR have only been discovered once fully established, which constrains opportunities for effective control. Early detection of outbreaks would provide an important opportunity for early intervention and increase understanding of outbreak cause(s). Here, we assess the utility of environmental DNA (eDNA) monitoring to detect the initiation of a population outbreak at Lizard Island over five years (2019–2023), compared with density estimates obtained using Scooter-Assisted Large Area Diver-based (SALAD) surveys. At each of the five eDNA sampling sites, 30 replicate samples were collected annually and analysed with CoTS-specific primer sets and digital droplet PCR. Both methods detected distinct increases in CoTS densities from 2020/21 onwards, indicating the start of a new population outbreak. A large part of the observed variation in eDNA (expressed as the percentage of positive samples) was explained by changes in recorded CoTS density, confirming that eDNA data provide a quantitative estimate for adult CoTS abundance. SALAD surveys and eDNA are new and complementary monitoring methods that facilitate early detection of CoTS outbreaks, which will enable more effective management intervention.</p>","PeriodicalId":10821,"journal":{"name":"Coral Reefs","volume":"68 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.5,"publicationDate":"2024-05-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141167349","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Coral ReefsPub Date : 2024-05-14DOI: 10.1007/s00338-024-02498-5
Michael J. Emslie, Daniela M. Ceccarelli, Murray Logan, Makeely I. Blandford, Peran Bray, Adriana Campili, Michelle J. Jonker, Joshua G. Parker, Tara Prenzlau, Tane H. Sinclair-Taylor
{"title":"Changing dynamics of Great Barrier Reef hard coral cover in the Anthropocene","authors":"Michael J. Emslie, Daniela M. Ceccarelli, Murray Logan, Makeely I. Blandford, Peran Bray, Adriana Campili, Michelle J. Jonker, Joshua G. Parker, Tara Prenzlau, Tane H. Sinclair-Taylor","doi":"10.1007/s00338-024-02498-5","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1007/s00338-024-02498-5","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Cycles of disturbance and recovery govern the temporal dynamics of living coral cover on coral reefs. Monitoring the state of the Great Barrier Reef at regional and individual reef scales has been ongoing by the Long-Term Monitoring Program at the Australian Institute of Marine Science since 1986. After a period of relative stability between 1986 and 2010, the latest decade of surveys recorded increased frequency of intense, large-scale disturbance events and coral cover has reached unprecedented lows and highs in each region. Following the consecutive bleaching events in 2016 and 2017, widespread recovery occurred on the northern and central Great Barrier Reef between 2017 and 2022, which was halted in 2023. An examination of the effects of the 2022 bleaching event revealed that the direct and indirect impacts of this event, along with ongoing crown-of-thorns starfish outbreaks, notable incidences of coral disease, and the passage of a tropical cyclone all contributed to the most recent coral cover changes across the Great Barrier Reef. The prognosis for future disturbances suggests increasing and longer-lasting marine heatwaves, continuing severe tropical cyclones and the ongoing risk of outbreaks of crown-of-thorns starfish. Although the observed capacity for recovery is a cause for cautious optimism for the overall state of the Great Barrier Reef, there is increasing concern for its ability to continue to bounce back in the face of escalating climatic pressure.</p>","PeriodicalId":10821,"journal":{"name":"Coral Reefs","volume":"2014 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.5,"publicationDate":"2024-05-14","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"140929134","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"生物学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}