Surviving Coral Bleaching Events: Porites Growth Anomalies on the Great Barrier Reef

Mass coral bleaching events on the Great Barrier Reef (GBR) in 1998 and 2002 left distinct growth anomalies in surviving Porites colonies, revealing spatial variability in stress response. The study found that inshore reefs experienced significant calcification reductions of up to 18% for four years post-bleaching, followed by recovery, while mid-shelf and offshore sites showed no significant impacts on calcification rates. This contradicts some models suggesting uniform stress across the GBR. Researchers analyzed annual growth characteristics (extension, density, calcification) in 144 coral cores from 79 colonies spanning a 24-year period (1980-2003), uncovering growth hiatuses and partial mortality linked to bleaching events. These findings underscore the need for refined models to better predict coral calcification responses to ocean warming.

Cantin, N. E., & Lough, J. M. (2014). Surviving Coral Bleaching Events: Porites Growth Anomalies on the Great Barrier Reef. PLoS ONE, 9(2), e88720. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0088720