The impact of rising temperatures on the prevalence of coral diseases and its predictability: a global meta-analysis

Abstract

Coral reefs are under threat from disease as climate change alters environmental conditions. Rising temperatures exacerbate coral disease, but this relationship is likely complex as other factors also influence coral disease prevalence. To better understand this relationship, we meta-analytically examined 108 studies for changes in global coral disease over time alongside temperature, expressed using average summer sea surface temperature (SST) and cumulative heat stress as weekly sea surface temperature anomalies (WSSTAs). We found both rising average summer SST and WSSTA were associated with global increases in the mean and variability in coral disease prevalence. We showed global coral disease prevalence reached 9.92% compared to 3.16% in 1992, and the effect of ‘year’ became more stable (i.e., has lower variance), contrasting to the effects of the two temperature stressors. Regional patterns diverged over time and differed in response to average summer SST. Our model predicted that, under the same trajectory, 76.8% of corals would be diseased globally by 2100, even assuming moderate average summer SST and WSSTA. These results highlight the need for urgent action to mitigate coral disease. Mitigating the impact of rising ocean temperatures on coral disease alone is a complex challenge requiring global discussion and further study.

Broadscale coral disease interventions elicit efficiencies in endemic disease response

“…Abundance and virulence of coral diseases are known to fluctuate through space and time with varying environmental factors (Vega Thurber et al, 2014), and disease prevalence can be exacerbated by increased sea surface temperatures and weekly sea surface temperature anomalies (Burke et al, 2023). SEFL has two distinct seasons which coincide with temperature, wherein the wet season is the warmest and the dry season the coolest.…”