Seminar Series: Florida’s Acropora and the 4th Global Coral Bleaching Event

The frequency and severity of marine heatwaves are increasing, resulting in widespread degradation of the function, structure, resilience, and adaptive capacity of ecosystems. Coral reefs are one of the most heat-vulnerable marine ecosystems; heat-driven mass bleaching events have caused mortality and reef degradation for > 40 years, with impacts continually increasing in scale and severity. Half the Atlantic Ocean’s reef-building coral species face a risk of extinction due to ocean warming and other threats in the coming two decades, with Elkhorn (Acropora palmata) and Staghorn coral (Acropora cervicornis) among the most critically endangered. In 2023, a record-setting marine heatwave triggered the ninth mass coral bleaching event on Florida’s Coral Reef (FCR) since 1987.  The presenter will highlight the ecological and geological impact of the 2023 event.

Presenter: Derek Manzello, NOAA Coral Reef Watch