Title
Diversification of refugia types needed to secure the future of coral reefs subject to climate change
Author(s)
McClanahan, T. R.; Darling, E. S.; Beger, M.; Fox, H.E.; Grantham, H. S.; Jupiter, S. D.; Logan, Cheryl A.; Mcleod, E.; McManus, L. C.; Oddenyo, R. M.; Surya, G. S.; Wenger, A. S.; Zinke, J.; Maina, J. M.
Published
2024
Publisher
Conservation Biology
Abstract
Identifying locations of refugia to the thermal stresses of climate change for coral reefs and better managing them is one of the key recommendations for climate change adaptation. Here, we summarize 30 years of applied research and conservation and conclude that currently proposed refugia are highly reliant on excess heat avoidance metrics. A more diverse set of environmental, ecological, and life history variables can identify other types of refugia and lead to the desired diversified portfolio for coral reef conservation. To improve prioritization and site selection decisions, there is a need to: evaluate and validate the predictions of this approach with long-term field data on coral abundance, diversity, and functioning; and identify and safeguard locations displaying resistance to climate exposure or the ability to recover quickly after thermal exposure. We recommend building a portfolio that includes more local ecological and evolutionary context information to identify and conserve a more equal proportion of the three major types of refugia (avoidance, resistance, and recovery); thereby shifting past efforts focused on avoidance towards a diversified risk-spreading portfolio that better manages biodiversity and ecosystem services.
Keywords
climate change; coral reefs; environmental stress; gap analysis; marine spatial planning; refugia
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PUB36011