Turbid reefs experience lower coral bleaching effects in NE Borneo (Sabah, Malaysia)

• DOI: 10.1016/j.rsma.2023.103268
• Publication Date: 2023-10-30T16:07:35Z
• Authors: Allia Rosedy; Isabel Ives; Zarinah Waheed; Muhammad Ali Syed...; Sindia Sosdian; Kenneth Johnson; Nadia Santodomingo
• Keywords: Coral bleaching

The impacts of climate change are becoming more evident in recent years. Future projections suggest that heat stress events will likely be frequent and severe over the next century, threatening high diversity Coral Triangle. Shallow turbid reefs may help dampen some these effects as several studies have shown their inherent resilience to events. Therefore, our main goal was test this hypothesis by assessing response corals event 2020. We conducted bleaching surveys two contrasting habitats Darvel Bay, Sabah: reef Sakar, clear-water Blue Lagoon. Relatively coral cover (40–43%) observed on both 2019. Underwater data loggers were used monitor temperature light. colonies scored from video transects 100 m at 5 10 depth localities, with an additional transect 15 A total 1326 evaluated for presence severity based six-point scoring method. Bleaching varied significantly between reefs. Low reef, average 9.6% having bleached. Meanwhile, Lagoon had 37.1% affected bleaching. also among depth, where deeper depths bleached less Foliose forms most Lagoon, while massive suffered Sakar reef. responses different genera. While Ctenactis Herpolitha consistently resistant reefs, Leptoseris, Fungia Goniopora Pachyseris notably than Overall, indices within lower assessed around globe during These outcomes support hosting resilient communities face change.