High frequency temperature variability reduces the risk of coral bleaching

• DOI: 10.1038/s41467-018-04074-2
• Publication Date: 2018-04-20T11:20:17Z
• Authors: Aryan Safaie; Nyssa J. Silbiger; Timothy R. McClan...; Geno Pawlak; Daniel J. Barshis; James L. Hench; Justin S. Rogers; Gareth J. Williams; Kristen A. Davis
• Keywords: Coral bleaching; Anthozoa

Coral bleaching is the detrimental expulsion of algal symbionts from their cnidarian hosts, and predominantly occurs when corals are exposed to thermal stress. The incidence severity often spatially heterogeneous within reef-scales (<1 km), therefore not predictable using conventional remote sensing products. Here, we systematically assess relationship between in situ measurements 20 environmental variables, along with seven remotely sensed SST stress metrics, 81 observed events at coral reef locations spanning five major regions globally. We find that high-frequency temperature variability (i.e., daily range) was most influential factor predicting prevalence had a mitigating effect, such 1 °C increase range would reduce odds more severe by 33. Our findings suggest reefs greater may represent particularly important opportunities conserve ecosystems against threat posed warming ocean temperatures.