Coral Reefs
Coral Reefs
Coral reef ecosystems serve as natural coastal defenses, support local island economies, and are important sources of food for coastal communities. CASC scientists are working to understand the increase in coral bleaching events, and the associated declines of coral cover and diversity as sea surface temperatures continue to rise under a changing climate. Explore our science on coral reefs below.
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Coral Reef Resilience to Climate Change in the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands
Coral reefs are sometimes called “rainforests of the sea” because of their immense biological diversity and economic value. While coral reefs are sensitive to changes in their environment such as altered temperature or pollution, some reefs are more resilient, or able to recover from disturbance more quickly, than others. The overarching objective of this project was to gather information on coral
Projections of Future Coral Reef Communities in DOI-Managed Coastal Areas in the Hawaiian Islands
The conditions of coral reefs in the Hawaiian Islands are predicted to decline significantly from climate change over the next 100 years. To better prepare for the impacts of climate change on Hawaiian reefs, the research team uses a system of models to simulate ocean waves and circulation, rainfall and storm run-off, and coral reef community dynamics through the year 2100. These models will ident
Valuing Climate Change Impacts on Coral Reef Ecosystem Services
Coral reefs provide numerous ecosystem goods and services critical to human well-being (e.g., protection from storms and floods, food, income, recreation, and cultural practices), but they are threatened by growing human pressures and climate change. Resource managers must make complex decisions when developing adaptation plans that are cost-effective and maintain coral reef functions while still