Project Information

Project Timeline: July 2011-January 2013. This project has been completed.
Principal Investigator(s): Ilsa B. Kuffner, Research Ecologist, USGS St. Petersburg Coastal and Marine Science Center
Implements Science Plan Theme: 
3: Impacts of Climate Change on Water Resources
5: Impacts of Climate Change on Coastal and Nearshore Marine Environments

Key Points

• Researched coral reefs, a critical aquatic ecosystem under a host of threats
• Focused on three representative reef-building coral species to understand how they change alongside climate change
• Provided data to inform species protection policies and restoration plans

Overview

Coral reefs are some of the most valuable ecosystems in the world. They provide food, fishing, and recreation opportunities for millions of people. They also protect coastlines from storms and are home to thousands of plants and animals. But, climate change is harming coral reefs. Warming temperature and increasing acidification of ocean waters are degrading many reefs. Scientists are working to understand the specifics on how these factors will impact coral reef ecosystems.

This study assessed the climate vulnerability of three important reef-building coral species in the Florida Keys. We used coral cores to study the effects of temperature and decreasing ocean pH on coral growth over the last 150 years. This data can inform reef restoration actions and species protection policies. It also creates a baseline for coral growth rates. Researchers can reference this baseline as ocean conditions continue to change.

More Information

• This study was a part of a larger effort to investigate the response of corals to changing ocean conditions in the Florida / Caribbean region. Learn more about the Coral Reef Ecosystem Studies project.
• View the professional page for Principal Investigator Ilsa Kuffner.