Future of coral bleaching research
Coral bleaching is the largest global threat to coral reef ecosystem persistence this century. Advancing our understanding of coral bleaching and developing solutions to protect corals and the reefs they support are critical. In the present article, we, the US National Science Foundation-funded Coral Bleaching Research Coordination Network, outline future directions for coral bleaching research. Specifically, we address the need for embedded inclusiveness, codevelopment, and capacity building as a foundation for excellence in coral bleaching research and the critical role of coral-bleaching science in shaping policy. We outline a path for research innovation and technology and propose the formation of an international coral bleaching consortium that, in coordination with existing multinational organizations, could be a hub for planning, coordinating, and integrating global-scale coral bleaching research, innovation, and mitigation strategies. This proposed strategy for future coral bleaching research could facilitate a step-function change in how we address the coral bleaching crisis.
Authors
- Danwei Huang (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3365-5583)
- Ilsa B. Kuffner (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8804-7847)
- Joshua S. Madin (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5005-6227)
- Yvonne Sawall (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3472-3819)
- Hugo B. Harrison (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8831-0086)
- Adriana Humanes (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7962-2635)
- Michael John Sweet (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4983-8333)
- Mary Alice Coffroth (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4383-1299)
- Eric D. Crandall (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8580-3651)
- Jacqueline L. Padilla‐Gamiño (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0478-9953)
- Erinn M. Muller (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2695-2064)
- Ann Marie Hulver (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0466-9070)
- Mónica Medina (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8367-0293)
- José M. Eirín‐López (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8041-9770)
- Katie L. Barott (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7371-4870)
- Tom Shlesinger (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1977-8421)
- Andréa G. Grottoli (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6053-9452)
- Megan J. Donahue (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7529-001X)
- Christian Wild (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9637-6536)
- Lisa C. McManus
- Scott F. Heron (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5262-6978)
- Christine Ferrier‐Pagès (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0357-4486)
- Thomas Krueger (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8132-8870)
- David J. Combosch (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7004-7435)
- Adrienne M. S. Correa (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0137-5042)
- Thomas Felis (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1417-9657)
- Hollie M. Putnam (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2322-3269)
- Henry C. Wu (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8975-5917)
- Leïla Chapron (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3198-3500)
- Iliana B. Baums (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6463-7308)
- Carly D. Kenkel (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1126-4311)
- Virginia M. Weis (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1826-2848)
- Mikhail V. Matz (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5453-9819)
- Rebecca Vega Thurber (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-3516-2061)
- Emily R. Schmeltzer (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5390-4308)
- Robert John Toonen (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6339-4340)
- Christian Robert Voolstra (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4555-3795)
- Karl D. Castillo
Institutions
- University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill (US)
- University of Southern California (US)
- University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa (US)
- United States Geological Survey (US)
- Carl von Ossietzky Universität Oldenburg (DE)
- Bermuda Institute of Ocean Sciences (BM)
- Pennsylvania State University (US)
- Oregon State University (US)
- University of California, Santa Barbara (US)
- Tel Aviv University (IL)
- National University of Singapore (SG)
- University of Rhode Island (US)
- University of Bremen (DE)
- University of Konstanz (DE)
- Florida International University (US)
- University of Washington (US)
- University of Derby (GB)
- University of Cambridge (GB)
- Leibniz Centre for Tropical Marine Research (DE)
- Mote Marine Laboratory (US)
- Sorbonne Université (FR)
- Helmholtz Institute for Functional Marine Biodiversity (DE)
- Scientific Centre of Monaco (MC)
- The Ohio State University (US)
- University at Buffalo, State University of New York (US)
- Rice University (US)
- University of Pennsylvania (US)
- University of Guam (GU)
- Newcastle University (GB)
- James Cook University (AU)
- The University of Texas at Austin (US)
- University of California, Berkeley (US)
Publication Details
- Journal
- BioScience
- Published
- 2025-04-25
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.1093/biosci/biaf066
- Citations
- 2
- Primary Topic
- Coral and Marine Ecosystems Studies
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 3.43
Funders
- National Science Foundation
- Ohio State University