Heat-driven functional extinction of Caribbean Acropora corals from Florida's Coral Reef

Derek P Manzello; Ross Cunning; Richard F Karp; Andrew C Baker; Erich Bartels; Ryan Bonhag; Alexandra Borreil; Amanda Bourque; Kristen T Brown; Andrew W Bruckner; Bryce Corbett; Martine D'Alessandro; Craig Dahlgren; Jenna Dilworth; Erick Geiger; David S Gilliam; Maya Gomez; Grace Hanson; Cailin Harrell; Dalton Hesley; Lindsay K Huebner; Carly D Kenkel; Hanna R Koch; Joe Kuehl; Ilsa B Kuffner; Mark C Ladd; Sophia Lee; Kathryn C Lesneski; Amanda Lewan; Diego Lirman; Gang Liu; Shayle B Matsuda; Phanor H Montoya-Maya; Jennifer Moore; Erinn M Muller; Ken Nedimyer; John Everett Parkinson; Rob Ruzicka; Jason Spadaro; Blake L Spady; Jennifer Stein; Joseph D Unsworth; Cory Walter; Alexandra D E Wen; Dana E Williams; Sara D Williams; Olivia M Williamson

doi:10.1126/science.adx7825

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Heat-driven functional extinction of Caribbean Acropora corals from Florida's Coral Reef

Journal article

Peer reviewed

Heat-driven functional extinction of Caribbean Acropora corals from Florida's Coral Reef

Derek P Manzello, Ross Cunning, Richard F Karp, Andrew C Baker, Erich Bartels, Ryan Bonhag, Alexandra Borreil, Amanda Bourque, Kristen T Brown, Andrew W Bruckner, …

Science (American Association for the Advancement of Science), Vol.390(6771), pp.361-366

2025-10-23

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1126/science.adx7825

PMID: 41129628

Appears in Rosenstiel School - Latest Publications

Abstract

Animals

Anthozoa - physiology

Caribbean Region

Coral Bleaching

Coral Reefs

Endangered Species

Extinction, Biological

Florida

Hot Temperature

In 2023, a record-setting marine heat wave triggered the ninth mass coral bleaching event on Florida's Coral Reef (FCR). We examined spatial patterns of heat exposure along the ~560-kilometer length of FCR and the mortality of two ecologically important, critically endangered reef-building corals. Sea surface temperatures were ≥31°C for an average of 40.7 days, leading to heat exposures 2.2- to fourfold higher than all prior years on record. In the Florida Keys and Dry Tortugas, 97.8 to 100% of the and colonies died. Mortality was lower offshore southeast Florida (37.9%), reflecting cooler temperatures in this region. Since the late 1970s, multiple stressors had already reduced the ecological relevance of in Florida, but the 2023 heat wave marks their functional extinction from FCR.

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Title: Heat-driven functional extinction of Caribbean Acropora corals from Florida's Coral Reef
Creators: Derek P Manzello - National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
Ross Cunning - Shedd Aquarium
Richard F Karp - University of Miami
Andrew C Baker - University of Miami
Erich Bartels - Mote Marine Laboratory
Ryan Bonhag - Mote Marine Laboratory
Alexandra Borreil - Mote Marine Laboratory
Amanda Bourque - Biscayne National Park
Kristen T Brown - Global Science & Technology
Andrew W Bruckner - NOAA Office of National Marine Sanctuaries
Bryce Corbett - Shedd Aquarium
Martine D'Alessandro - Rosenstiel School of Marine, Atmospheric, and Earth Science, University of Miami, Miami, FL, USA
Craig Dahlgren - Perry Institute for Marine Science
Jenna Dilworth - University of Southern California
Erick Geiger - National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
David S Gilliam - Nova Southeastern University
Maya Gomez - University of Southern California
Grace Hanson - Florida International University
Cailin Harrell - Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission
Dalton Hesley - University of Miami
Lindsay K Huebner - Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission
Carly D Kenkel - University of Southern California
Hanna R Koch - Mote Marine Laboratory
Joe Kuehl - Mote Marine Laboratory
Ilsa B Kuffner - United States Geological Survey
Mark C Ladd - National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
Sophia Lee - University of Miami
Kathryn C Lesneski - Florida International University
Amanda Lewan - Mote Marine Laboratory
Diego Lirman - University of Miami
Gang Liu - National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
Shayle B Matsuda - Shedd Aquarium
Phanor H Montoya-Maya - Reef Environmental Education Foundation
Jennifer Moore - NOAA Office of National Marine Sanctuaries
Erinn M Muller - Mote Marine Laboratory
Ken Nedimyer - Reef Renewal USA, Tavernier, FL, USA
John Everett Parkinson - University of South Florida
Rob Ruzicka - Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission
Jason Spadaro - Mote Marine Laboratory
Blake L Spady - Global Science & Technology
Jennifer Stein - Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission
Joseph D Unsworth - University of Miami
Cory Walter - Mote Marine Laboratory
Alexandra D E Wen - University of Miami
Dana E Williams - National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
Sara D Williams - Mote Marine Laboratory
Olivia M Williamson - University of Miami
Publication Details: Science (American Association for the Advancement of Science), Vol.390(6771), pp.361-366
Grant note: NOAA Coral Reef Conservation ProgramNOAA Ruth D. Gates Coral Restoration Innovation Grant ProgramNOAA Restoration CenterNOAA Protected ResourcesPaul M. Angell Family FoundationDr. Scholl FoundationBrunswick FoundationDefense Advanced Research Projects Agency Reefense ProgramNational Park Service Dry Tortugas National ParkUS Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)US EPA Water Quality Protection ProgramFlorida Department of Environmental ProtectionFlorida State Wildlife GrantFlorida Fish and Wildlife Conservation CommissionUS Geological Survey's Coastal and Marine Hazards and Resources ProgramMonroe County Tourist Development CouncilNational Fish and Wildlife FoundationNSF: OCE-2023155, OCE-2023187, OCE-2023705, IOS-2222272 United Way of Collier and the KeysMote Postdoctoral Research FellowshipNOAANature Conservancy: NA22NOS4820123 NOAA: ST13301CQ0050/1332KP22FNEED0042
This work was supported by the NOAA Coral Reef Conservation Program (D.P.M., A.C.B., M.C.L., K.C.L., G. H., P.H.M.-M.); the NOAA Ruth D. Gates Coral Restoration Innovation Grant Program (A.C.B.); the NOAA Restoration Center (E.M.M.); NOAA Protected Resources (J.S., L.K.H., C.H., R.R.); the Paul M. Angell Family Foundation (R.C.); the Dr. Scholl Foundation (R.C.); the Brunswick Foundation (R.C.); the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency Reefense Program (A.C.B.); National Park Service Dry Tortugas National Park (J.S., L.K.H., C.H., R.R.); the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) (D.L.); the US EPA Water Quality Protection Program (J.S., L.K.H., C.H., R.R.); the Florida Department of Environmental Protection (D.L., A.C.B., D.S.G., J.S., L.K.H., C.H., R.R.); the Florida State Wildlife Grant (J.S., L.K.H., C.H., R.R.); the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (J.S., L.K.H., C.H., R.R., E.M.M.); the US Geological Survey's Coastal and Marine Hazards and Resources Program (I.B.K.); the Monroe County Tourist Development Council (E.M.M.); the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation (D.S.G., P.H.M.-M.); the NSF (grant OCE-2023155 to A.C.B.; OCE-2023187 to J.E.P.; OCE-2023705 to C.D.K., R.C., and C.D.; and IOS-2222272 to C.D.K.); United Way of Collier and the Keys (P.H.M.-M.); the Mote Postdoctoral Research Fellowship (H.R.K.); and NOAA and the Nature Conservancy Cooperative Agreement NA22NOS4820123 (J.S., L.K.H., C.H., R.R.). Part of this work was performed and funded under NOAA contract ST13301CQ0050/1332KP22FN EED0042. The scientific results and conclusions, as well as any views or opinions expressed herein, are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of NOAA or the US Department of Commerce. Any use of trade, firm, or product names is for descriptive purposes only and does not imply endorsement by the US government.
Academic Unit: Rosenstiel School; Rosenstiel - Marine Biology & Ecology; Rosenstiel - CIMAS
Language: English
Resource Type: Journal article
PMID: 41129628
Record Identifier: 991032853923602976