title: Climate change, human impacts, and the resilience of coral reefs.
abstract: The diversity, frequency, and scale of human impacts on coral reefs are increasing to the extent that reefs are threatened globally. Projected increases in carbon dioxide and temperature over the next 50 years exceed the conditions under which coral reefs have flourished over the past half-million years. However, reefs will change rather than disappear entirely, with some species already showing far greater tolerance to climate change and coral bleaching than others. International integration of management strategies that support reef resilience need to be vigorously implemented, and complemented by strong policy decisions to reduce the rate of global warming.
authors.affiliation: Centre for Coral Reef Biodiversity, James Cook University, Townsville, Qld 4811, Australia. terry.hughes@jcu.edu.au
authors.forename: T P
authors.initials: TP
authors.lastname: Hughes
authors.forename: A H
authors.initials: AH
authors.lastname: Baird
authors.forename: D R
authors.initials: DR
authors.lastname: Bellwood
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Card
authors.forename: S R
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: Connolly
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Folke
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Grosberg
authors.forename: O
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Hoegh-Guldberg
authors.forename: J B C
authors.initials: JB
authors.lastname: Jackson
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kleypas
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Lough
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Marshall
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Nyström
authors.forename: S R
authors.initials: SR
authors.lastname: Palumbi
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Pandolfi
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Rosen
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Roughgarden
mesh_terms: D000220:Adaptation, Biological; D000818:Animals; D037421:Anthozoa / Q000254:growth & development / Q000502:physiology*; D002980:Climate; D003247:Conservation of Natural Resources; D017753:Ecosystem; D004777:Environment; D005399:Fishes; D017752:Greenhouse Effect; D006801:Humans