Poster Presentation Australian Marine Sciences Association 2025 Conference

The Biophysical Factors Controlling Post-Bleaching Recovery of Corals in the Great Barrier Reef (#124)

Liav Meoded Stern 1 , Ana Paula Da Silva 1 , Shawna Foo 2 , Dayana Chadda-Harmer 2 , Alexander Waller 2 , Maria Byrne 2 , Ana Vila Concejo 1
  1. The University of Sydney, Geocoastal Research Group, School of Geosciences, Syndey, NSW, Australia
  2. School of Life and Environmental Science, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia

As global climate change worsens and mass bleaching events become more frequent and severe, widespread coral decline is seen worldwide, resulting in significant global efforts to promote recovery and restore these valuable ecosystems. However, effective conservation is challenged by the variability in coral functional traits across different genera and morphologies, as well as the fine-scale variation in environmental conditions that influence post-bleaching outcomes. This study investigates the environmental and morphological factors that facilitate recovery and how they vary at the reef scale. Oceanographic instruments, in-water coral surveys, and micro-computed tomography (micro-CT) were used to examine the hydrodynamic regime and coral health at three sites within One Tree Reef in the Great Barrier Reef, post the 2024 mass bleaching event. The preliminary findings show that while sites with higher current velocities produce corals with thicker skeletons, it is higher wave energy that promotes greater recovery post bleaching. Additionally, simpler growth forms demonstrated greater resilience compared to complex morphologies. These insights can inform coral reef management by prioritising conservation efforts in areas more likely to experience high mortality rates, while focusing restoration efforts on areas with greater recovery potential.