Decadal stability of coral reef benthic communities on Palmyra Atoll, central Pacific, through two bleaching events

Coral reef benthic communities on Palmyra Atoll demonstrate remarkable resilience to thermal stress. Despite two severe bleaching events linked to El Niño (2009–2010 and 2015–2016), the atoll's reefs maintained long-term stability over a decade. While hard coral cover declined temporarily post-bleaching—particularly on wave-exposed fore reefs—it recovered within two years, with algal groups replacing corals variably across sites. The study, using annual photoquadrat analysis from 80 permanent plots, highlights the atoll's capacity to withstand disturbances in the absence of local stressors, offering insights into the adaptability of calcifier-dominated reef ecosystems.

Khen, A., Johnson, M. D., Fox, M. D., Clements, S. M., Carter, A. L., & Smith, J. E. (2022). Decadal stability of coral reef benthic communities on Palmyra Atoll, central Pacific, through two bleaching events. Coral Reefs, 41(4), 1017–1029. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00338-022-02271-6