Insights into Coral colony mortality the role of rising ocean temperatures and environmental stressors

Abstract

An assessment of the impact on coral reefs was conducted from 2019 to 2022 using a survey on two island reefs. The findings indicated that rising ocean temperatures were linked to the 40% of coral colony deaths that occurred in 2019 and 2021. Additionally, the concentrations of zooxanthellae in lagoon corals varied during this time. The study found that sediment, chlorophyll, photosynthetically active radiation (PAR), and temperature all had a significant impact on coral health. The significant variation in sedimentation rates—which ranged from 5.3 to 202 mg/cm2/day—suggested a high degree of sedimentation. The results of the study show how temperature, PAR, chlorophyll, and sediment levels affect coral health and emphasise the importance of monitoring and reducing these stressors. Conservation efforts can be focused on the most urgent threats to coral reef ecosystems by pinpointing the precise variables that lead to coral degradation. In the end, this research advances our knowledge of how to safeguard these essential marine environments for upcoming generations.