© Climate induced coral bleaching events are the greatest threat to coral reefs. As shown here, there is extensive bleaching of hard and soft corals at Moore Reef following sustained heat stress in March 2017 on Great Barrier Reef.
(c) ARC CoE for Coral Reef Studies/ Ciemon Caballes
© Coral and reef fish species vary in their tolerance to severe heat stress. Here, the ‘winners’ and ‘losers’ of the 2016 mass coral bleaching event at Moore Reef, Great Barrier Reef, March 2017.
(c) ARC CoE for Coral Reef Studies/ Ciemon Caballes
© Branching corals and small‐bodied reef fish are often worse affected. Pictured here, a bleached branching acroporid colony with associated reef fish, right next to a healthy (or yet to bleached) Porites colony, on Lizard Island, northern Great Barrier Ree
(c) ARC CoE for Coral Reef Studies/ Laura Richardson
© Clown fish at Lizard Island during the 2016 coral bleaching event on the Great Barrier Reef.
(c) ARC CoE for Coral Reef Studies/ Laura Richardson
© Some species decline and others survive severe bleaching events.
(c) ARC CoE for Coral Reef Studies/ Laura Richardson