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The limits of coral thermal tolerance in tropical South Atlantic coastal reefs after the fourth global mass bleaching event
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DOI：10.1007/s00338-026-02929-5.png)
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Abstract
En 中文
The increasing frequency and intensity of thermal anomalies, combined with local stressors, have reshaped our understanding of coral thermal vulnerability worldwide. In this study, we tracked bleaching and mortality trajectories across eight surveys conducted during the fourth global mass bleaching event in 2024, which reached 21.37 °C-weeks in the study region. We individually monitored 290 colonies from eight major reef-building species in a Northeastern Brazilian coastal reef using video and photographic surveys, complemented by 3D models for data validation. Our results revealed marked differences in species vulnerability, with mortality reaching 99% in M. alcicornis and A. humilis and 93% in M. harttii, followed by M. hispida (78%), S. wellsi (70%), and P. astreoides (48%). In contrast, M. cavernosa and Siderastrea sp. exhibited the lowest mortality rates (14% and 10%, respectively) in the final survey. By integrating colony records collected between 2016 and 2024 from fixed transects and tracked colonies, we identified species-specific mortality thresholds associated with increasing thermal stress, particularly for M. alcicornis, A. humilis, and M. hispida. Spatial variability influenced mortality patterns in M. cavernosa, whereas colony size and distance from the coast were not significant predictors for M. cavernosa and M. alcicornis. Nine months after bleaching onset, dead skeletons were predominantly colonized by filamentous and turf algae, with notable occurrence of calcareous turf and crustose coralline algae, providing insights into successional trajectories following coral mortality. Overall, our findings highlight substantial species-specific differences in thermal vulnerability and provide insights into how extreme bleaching events may reshape the composition and resilience of South Atlantic coastal reefs.
Keywords:
Coral bleaching
Climate change
Brazilian coastal coral reefs
Thresholds
Thermal tolerance
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