Reef-building corals form bio-diverse marine ecosystems of high societal and economic
value, but are in significant decline globally due, in part, to rapid climatic changes. As …

Coral–algal interactions are pivotal in reef ecosystems globally as they can scale up
ecosystem levels and lead to dominance shifts. In this study, we conducted a systematic …

Constraints on organisms possessing a unitary body plan appear almost absent from
colonial organisms. Like unitary organisms, however, coral colonies seemingly delay …

Competition between the massive scleractinian coral Porites lutea and two benthic algal
species, thin-filamentous blue-green Lyngbya bouillonii (Cyanophyta) commonly observed …

Microscopic-scale processes significantly influence benthic marine ecosystems such as
coral reefs and kelp forests. Due to the ocean's complex and dynamic nature, it is most …

Global warming is one of the major causes of reef coral ecosystems' degradation.
Predictions of further rise in sea surface temperatures call for urgent action. In this study, a …

Over the past three decades, Caribbean coral reefs have drastically changed in structure
and organization due to anthropogenically driven environmental changes. The prognostic …

Recurrent disturbances on coral reefs that cause injuries, like predation and storm damage,
and elevated seawater temperatures reduce coral fitness and immunocompetence. An …

Interactions between predators and prey organisms are of fundamental importance to
ecological communities. While the ecological impact that grazing predators can have in …

Storms inflict damage to corals resulting in fragments that have the potential to regenerate
thus contributing to the asexual reproduction of the parental colony. Extreme climatic events …