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REEF RESILIENCY

BLE ACHING

D15

TO

What

What Is It?

BENCHMARK

Initiate some management changes

Initiate

The ability of a coral reef ecosystem to withstand

(e.g., boundary changes in existing

or avoid the effects of bleaching exemplifies reef

MPAs or creation of no-disturbance

resistance, while the ecosystem's ability to recover

from bleaching and other disturbances is an example

zones) based on the classification of

of resilience.

resiliency.

resiliency.

The Reef Resiliency to Bleaching indicator is a measure

TA R G E T

of the spatial extent of MAR coral reef areas that have

At least 50% of the total extent of

At

known resilience and/or resistance properties with

resilient and resistant coral reef under

respect to coral bleaching stress, or that demonstrate

protective management.

protective

the potential for these properties.

RED FL AG

Why Do We Measure It?

No

No net increase of resilient and

Resistance and resilience are considered the most

resistant coral reef areas under

salient factors to the long-term survival of coral reef

protection.

ecosystems facing increasing and intensifying threats.

This indicator provides information on the geographic

location and extent of coral reef areas that possess

overhang) and are therefore protected from direct

resilience or resistance properties to bleaching

sunlight and heat, and

stress.

· Areas of screening -- areas that are in a naturally

While bleaching events cannot be mitigated through

turbid state in which particulates act as screens to

direct interventions to address the threat (primarily

UV exposure.

that of rising sea surface temperatures associated

With the use of GIS-based information, field data,

with climate change), the identification of particularly

direct observations and local knowledge, these areas

resistant and resilient areas allows appropriate

(or probable areas) can be located and estimates of

management strategies to be implemented in a

their extent can be made.

highly targeted fashion. By targeting these resilient

reefs for additional conservation and management

MAR reefs can be classified according to the following

efforts, managers maximize the likelihood of survival

scheme:

and long-term viability of these reefs in light of the

Categories of Reef Resiliency to Bleaching

projected sea surface temperature increases and

associated increases in the number and severity of

Resiliency Type

Condition Definitions

future bleaching events.

Type 1 Resiliency

No historical or current bleaching reported

(Resistance)

How Do We Measure It?

Type 2 Resiliency

Historical or current bleaching with no mortality

Physical features that facilitate the identification of

Historical or current bleaching with mortality and

Type 3 Resiliency

reefs likely to be resilient or resistant to bleaching

subsequent recovery

include59:

Historical or current bleaching with mortality and no

Type 4 Resiliency

recovery

· Areas of upwelling -- areas through which colder,

Data Source60

often nutrient-rich currents flow,

The areal extent of bleaching-resistant and resilient

· Areas of rapid current -- areas through which

coral reefs in the MAR region can then be calculated.

currents flow at a fast rate producing a cooling and

MAR reefs can also be ranked according to this

flushing effect,

prioritization scheme, which helps to identify reefs that

warrant more or immediate protective management

· Areas of shading -- areas that are in the shadow

action.

of physical structures (e.g., land promontory, reef

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