Health AI Central
Peer-Reviewed Publication
J Anim Ecol2026September 9, 2026Journal Article

Rapid loss, and slow recovery, of coral reef structural complexity resulting from a prolonged marine heatwave.

Kevin A Bruce1, John H R Burns2, Dominique G Maucieri1, Kailey Pascoe2, Julia K Baum1
1Department of Biology, University of Victoria, Victoria, British Columbia, Canada.
2Marine Science, Data Science, and Tropical Conservation Biology and Environmental Science, College of Natural and Health Sciences, University of Hawai'i at Hilo, Hilo, Hawaii, USA.
PubMed DOI

Abstract

Globally, climate change-driven marine heatwaves are causing increased coral bleaching and mortality events with cascading effects, including reef habitat complexity. Given that habitat complexity positively influences biodiversity and organismal abundance, such losses have negative ramifications for these ecosystems. Past studies have documented habitat complexity changes following heatwaves, yet…

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