Cold water and harmful algal blooms linked to coral reef collapse in the Eastern Tropical Pacific

PeerJ. 2022 Sep 28:10:e14081. doi: 10.7717/peerj.14081. eCollection 2022.

Abstract

Background: With conventional coral reef conservation methods proving ineffective against intensifying climate change, efforts have focussed on augmenting coral tolerance to warmer water-the primary driver of coral declines. We document coral cover and composition in relation to sea surface temperature (SST) over 25-years, of six marginal reefs in an upwelling area of Costa Rica's Eastern Tropical Pacific.

Methods: Using reef survey data and sea surface temperature (SST) dating back over 25-years, we document coral cover and composition of six marginal reefs in an upwelling area of Costa Rica's Eastern Tropical Pacific in relation to thermal highs and lows.

Results: A ubiquitous and catastrophic coral die-off event occurred in 2009, driven by SST minima and likely by the presence of extreme harmful algal blooms. Coral cover was dramatically reduced and coral composition shifted from dominant branching Pocillopora to massive Pavona, Porites, and Gardineroseris. The lack of coral recovery in the decade since indicates a breach in ecosystem tipping-point and highlights a need for resilience-based management (RBM) and restoration. We propose a locally tailored and globally scalable approach to coral reef declines that is founded in RBM and informed by coral health dynamics.

Keywords: Climate change; Costa Rica; Immunity; Marginal reef; Resilience-based management; Restoration; Upwelling.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Anthozoa*
  • Coral Reefs*
  • Ecosystem
  • Harmful Algal Bloom
  • Water

Substances

  • Water

Grants and funding

This work was supported and funded by the following organisations: Jessie Hill, Tejas Patel, Roland Puschendorf, Christian Schmidt, Frank Joyce, the Guanacaste Dry Forest Conservation Fund, National Geographic (281497), Rapid Response Facility and Programa de Investigación (ACG). The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.