Climate change, human impacts, and the resilience of coral reefs

Journal Publication ResearchOnline@JCU
Hughes, T.P.;Baird, A.H.;Bellwood, D.R.;Card, M.;Connolly, S.R.;Folke, C.;Grosberg, R.;Hoegh-Guldberg, O.;Jackson, J.B.C.;Kleypas, J.;Lough, J.M.;Marshall, P.A.;Nyström, M.;Palumbi, S.R.;Pandolfi, J.M.;Rosen, B.;Roughgarden, J.
Terry HughesDavid Bellwood
Abstract

The diversity, frequency and scale of human impacts on coral reefs are increasing to the extent that reefs are threatened globally. Projected increases in carbon dioxide and temperature over the next 50 years exceed the conditions under which coral reefs have flourished over the past half million years. However, reefs will change rather than disappear entirely, with some species already showing far greater tolerance to climate change and coral bleaching than others. International integration of management strategies that support reef resilience need to be vigorously implemented, and complemented by strong policy decisions to reduce the rate of global warming.

Journal

Science

Publication Name

N/A

Volume

301

ISBN/ISSN

1095-9203

Edition

N/A

Issue

5635

Pages Count

5

Location

N/A

Publisher

American Association for the Advancement of Science

Publisher Url

N/A

Publisher Location

N/A

Publish Date

N/A

Url

N/A

Date

N/A

EISSN

N/A

DOI

10.1126/science.1085046