Science & Tech · Science & Environment · 1 hr ago
Nearly 44% of reef-building coral species face elevated extinction risk
Nearly 44% of reef-building coral species face elevated extinction risk, according to a new assessment.
Researchers had enough data to classify 774 species, and 340 were listed as threatened, including 33 as critically endangered.
The main threat is heat stress from rising ocean temperatures, which can make corals expel the algae they rely on for nutrients, a process called bleaching.
Separately, a study says 96% of shallow reef ecosystems could collapse within 50 years if climate change continues at its current pace, including reefs in Australia's Great Barrier Reef.
The species assessment predates the record ocean heat and global bleaching of 2023–2025, so the share at risk may now be higher.
Reefs support marine life, food, coastal protection and livelihoods in more than 100 tropical countries, and researchers say limiting further warming is essential to preserving coral biodiversity.
Nearly 44% of the world’s reef-building coral species face an elevated risk of extinction, according to a new study.
The study classified 340 of the 774 species with sufficient data as threatened.
Researchers identified climate-driven heat stress as the main cause of projected population declines.
The assessment predates the record ocean heat and global coral bleaching event of 2023-2025, so the share of threatened species could now be higher.
A separate report said 96% of shallow coral reef ecosystems may collapse within 50 years if climate change continues apace.
- Who
- Researchers assessed reef-building coral species using IUCN Red List criteria.
- What
- A study found that nearly 44% face elevated extinction risk.
- When
- The study was published Thursday. The assessment predates the 2023-2025 coral bleaching event.
- Where
- The assessment covered reef-building coral species worldwide.
- Why
- Rising ocean temperatures linked to climate change cause heat stress, the main cause of projected population declines.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
The study updated an earlier assessment of reef-building coral species.
A record ocean heat and global coral bleaching event occurred after the assessment.
The new study was published in the scientific journal Nature.
- Species assessed
- 892 reef-building coral species
- Species with sufficient data
- 774
- Threatened species
- 340
- Threatened species breakdown
- 33 critically endangered, 251 endangered and 56 vulnerable
- Shallow reef ecosystem outlook
- 96% may collapse within 50 years if climate change continues apace
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What people are saying
limiting further warming remains essential to preserving coral biodiversity