Over one-half
Coral
of the world's population lives
ReefTargeted Research &
within 100 kilometres
Capacity Building for Management
of the sea.
Coral Reef Targeted Research
& Capacity Building for Management
Coral Bleaching and Local Ecological Responses
Working Group
Understanding coral bleaching
Coral Symbionts
Bleached corals on reefs near the Keppel Islands
Dr Paul Marshall from the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority
Bleached corals on reefs near the Keppel Islands
image: Ove Hoegh-Guldberg
image: Ove Hoegh-Guldberg
image: Ove Hoegh-Guldberg
examining bleached corals on reefs near the Keppel Islands
image: Ove Hoegh-Guldberg
Goals
Outcomes
Working Group Members:
Ove Hoegh-Guldberg (University of
· Advance our understanding of the
1. Predictive capability for how and when
Queensland, Chair), Yossi Loya (Tel Aviv
Implications for Coral
susceptibility and tolerance of corals to
physical stress (heat and light) combine
University, Co-chair), , John Bythell (University of
rising sea temperatures.
to cause bleaching and mortality.
Newcastle) , William Fitt (University of Georgia),
Reef Management
· Improve our understanding of (and the
2. Improved detection and identification of
Ruth Gates (University of Hawaii), Roberto
linkages between) physiological stress
stress on coral reefs, and an enhanced
Iglesias-Prieto (Universidad Nacional Autonoma
and the ecological outcomes of thermal
ability to build resilience of coral reefs to
- Management is currently ill-prepared
de Mexico), Ron Johnstone (The University
to detect and respond to projected
stress.
climate change.
of Queensland), Michael Lesser (University
increases in coral bleaching and mortality.
· Enhance management tools by which to
3. Development of management strategies
of New Hampshire), Tim McClanahan (The
This project will fill vital gaps in our
identify and monitor stress on coral reefs.
to respond to climate change stresses on Wildlife Conservation Society), David Obura
understanding and will lay the basis for new
(CORDIO), Robert van Woesik (Florida Institute
· Develop more reliable projections of the
coral reefs worldwide.
technologies and capabilities to respond to
of Technology), Christian Wild (IOC/UNESCO).
conditions on coral reefs under rapid
climate change.
climate change.
- Improved projections of change will help
inform long-term strategies designed to
respond to climate change.
More information
The University of Queensland is the
Project Executing Agency (PEA). More
image: Ove Hoegh-Guldberg
information about the CRTR Program
Large scale bleaching affected the world's largest continuous coral
Bleaching refers to the loss of symbiotic dinoflagellate algae, Symbiodinium, within the coral host
can be obtained from the PEA:
reef in early 2002. More than 60% of the Great Barrier Reef bleached
leading to a bleached, white appearance. Bleaching is a stress response of the coral host and
and up to 5% have been severely damaged.
associated with elevated sea water temperature. Over extended time periods a bleached state can
lead to death of the coral, ans can occur over large areas of coral reef.
C/O Center for Marine Studies
image: Ernesto Weil
The University of Queensland
image: Ove Hoegh-Guldberg
St Lucia QLD 4072
Australia
Telephone: +61 7 3365 4333
Progress to date
Email: info@gefcoral.org
The CRTR Program is a partnership
1. Generated over 50 publications in peer-
4. Improved the current working model
7. Improved the current understanding
between the Global Environment
reviewed journals such as Science,
of the mechanisms underpinning coral
of how light exacerbates the effects of
Facility, The World Bank, The
Nature, and Global Climate Biology on
bleaching, disease and mortality.
temperature on coral reefs.
University of Queensland (Australia),
the physiology and ecology of coral
the United States National Oceanic
5. Created a world wide catalogue
8. Established long-term monitoring sites
and Atmospheric Administration
bleaching and disease.
of the genetics of coral symbionts
in Mexico, Tanzania and Australia for
(NOAA) and approximately 40
2. Held major research workshops and
(Symbiodinium) and have identified
investigating community dynamics
research institutes and other third
training sessions in several regions
potential tolerant combinations of corals
underpinning coral bleaching and
parties around the world.
including Mexico, Australasia and
and Symbiodinium.
mortality.
The four sites or Centers of
Indonesia.
Excellence are Southeast Asia:
6. Produced a database of over 1300
Marine Science Institute of Bolinao,
3. Investigated and reported on mass
potential stress proteins from
University of the Philippines; East
bleaching events that occurred recently in
Symbiodinium and have printed a
Africa: Institute of Marine Sciences,
Mexico (Sep-Oct 2005) and Australia
"stress chip" for developing better ways
University of Dar es Salaam, Zanzibar,
(Jan-Feb 2006).
of detecting stress in corals.
Tanzania; Mesoamerica/Western
Caribbean: Unidad Academica
Puerto Morelos, Universidad Nacional
Autonoma de Mexico, Mexico; and
Australasia/South Pacific: Heron
Island Research Laboratory, Centre
for Marine Studies, The University of
www.gefcoral.org
Queensland, Australia.

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