Robust Performance of Marginal Pacific Coral Reef Habitats in Future Climate Scenarios.

ABSTRACT: Coral reef ecosystems are under dual threat from climate change. Increasing sea surface temperatures and thermal stress create environmental limits at low latitudes, and decreasing aragonite saturation state creates environmental limits at high latitudes. This study examines the response of unique coral reef habitats to climate change in the remote Pacific, using the National Center for Atmospheric Research Community Earth System Model version 1 alongside the species distribution algorithm Maxent. Narrow ranges of physico-chemical variables are used to define unique coral habitats and their performance is tested in future climate scenarios. General loss of coral reef habitat is expected in future climate scenarios and has been shown in previous studies. This study found exactly that for mo

SUBMITTER: Freeman LA 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4459991 | biostudies-literature | 2015

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature