title: Differential Response of Coral Assemblages to Thermal Stress Underscores the Complexity in Predicting Bleaching Susceptibility.
abstract: Coral bleaching events have been predicted to occur more frequently in the coming decades with global warming. The susceptibility of corals to bleaching during thermal stress episodes is dependent on many factors and an understanding of these underlying drivers is crucial for conservation management. In 2013, a mild bleaching episode ensued in response to elevated sea temperature on the sediment-burdened reefs in Singapore. Surveys of seven sites highlighted variable bleaching susceptibility among coral genera-Pachyseris and Podabacia were the most impacted (31% of colonies of both genera bleached). The most susceptible genera such as Acropora and Pocillopora, which were expected to bleach, did not. Susceptibility varied between less than 6% and more than 11% of the corals bleached, at four and three sites respectively. Analysis of four of the most bleached genera revealed that a statistical model that included a combination of the factors (genus, colony size and site) provided a better explanation of the observed bleaching patterns than any single factor alone. This underscored the complexity in predicting the coral susceptibility to future thermal stress events and the importance of monitoring coral bleaching episodes to facilitate more effective management of coral reefs under climate change.
authors.affiliation: Tropical Marine Science Institute, National University of Singapore, 18 Kent Ridge Road, Singapore, 119227.
authors.forename: Loke Ming
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Chou
authors.affiliation: Tropical Marine Science Institute, National University of Singapore, 18 Kent Ridge Road, Singapore, 119227.
authors.forename: Tai Chong
authors.initials: TC
authors.lastname: Toh
authors.affiliation: Tropical Marine Science Institute, National University of Singapore, 18 Kent Ridge Road, Singapore, 119227.
authors.forename: Kok Ben
authors.initials: KB
authors.lastname: Toh
authors.affiliation: Tropical Marine Science Institute, National University of Singapore, 18 Kent Ridge Road, Singapore, 119227.
authors.forename: Chin Soon Lionel
authors.initials: CS
authors.lastname: Ng
authors.affiliation: Tropical Marine Science Institute, National University of Singapore, 18 Kent Ridge Road, Singapore, 119227.
authors.forename: Patrick
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Cabaitan
authors.affiliation: National Biodiversity Centre, National Parks Board, 1 Cluny Road, Singapore, 259569.
authors.forename: Karenne
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Tun
authors.affiliation: DHI Water and Environment, 1 Cleantech Loop, 03-04 CleanTech One, Singapore, 637141.
authors.forename: Eugene
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Goh
authors.affiliation: Tropical Marine Science Institute, National University of Singapore, 18 Kent Ridge Road, Singapore, 119227.
authors.forename: Lutfi
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Afiq-Rosli
authors.affiliation: Tropical Marine Science Institute, National University of Singapore, 18 Kent Ridge Road, Singapore, 119227.
authors.forename: Daisuke
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Taira
authors.affiliation: Tropical Marine Science Institute, National University of Singapore, 18 Kent Ridge Road, Singapore, 119227.
authors.forename: Rosa Celia Poquita
authors.initials: RC
authors.lastname: Du
authors.affiliation: Tropical Marine Science Institute, National University of Singapore, 18 Kent Ridge Road, Singapore, 119227.
authors.forename: Hai Xin
authors.initials: HX
authors.lastname: Loke
authors.affiliation: Department of Biological Sciences, National University of Singapore, 14 Science Drive 4, Singapore, 117543.
authors.forename: Aizat
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Khalis
authors.affiliation: Department of Biological Sciences, National University of Singapore, 14 Science Drive 4, Singapore, 117543.
authors.forename: Jinghan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore, 460 Alexandra Road PSA Building, Singapore, 119963.
authors.forename: Tiancheng
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Song
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D037421:Anthozoa / Q000502:physiology*; D057231:Climate Change; D057894:Coral Reefs; D017753:Ecosystem; D057232:Global Warming; D012846:Singapore; D013696:Temperature