NESP MB Project SS3 - National trends in coral species following heatwaves

This record provides an overview of the scope and research data outputs of the NESP Marine Biodiversity Hub Synthesis Study "National trends in coral species following heatwaves". For specific data outputs from this project, please see child records associated with this metadata.

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This project engaged coral taxonomic experts to annotate existing Reef Life Survey (RLS) photoquadrats taken across northern Australia before and after major disturbances, to allow:

• Quantification of the spatial and species-level responses of Australian corals to the 2016 and 2017 marine heatwave and mass bleaching events (and cyclones that occurred during this period).

• Identification of the species most threatened by warming and cyclones, and species likely to respond best to restoration efforts.

• Contribution to a coral-specific analysis to the next national State of the Environment report.

Planned Outputs

• Dataset on % cover of corals to highest taxonomic resolution possible from surveys around northern Australia before and after the 2016 mass bleaching event.

Identification info

Date (Creation): 2020-06-23

Resource provider

Department of the Environment and Energy (DoEE), Australian Government

Australian Government Department of the Environment and Energy

GPO Box 787

Canberra

Australian Capital Territory

2601

Australia

Purpose: To quantify responses of coral reefs to marine heatwaves and bleaching events, and identify at-risk species.

Credit: Rick Stuart-Smith (UTAS), Graham Edgar (UTAS), James Gilmour )AIMS), Emre Turak

Credit: This project is funded by the Australian Government Department of Climate Agriculture, Water and Energy (DAWE) through the NESP Marine Biodiversity Hub. In addition to NESP (DAWE) funding, this project is matched by an equivalent amount of in-kind support and co-investment from project partners and collaborators.