Corals survived past climate changes by retreating to the deeps
The 2023 marine heat wave caused functional extinction of two Acropora reef-building coral species in the Florida Reef, making natural recovery highly unlikely.
Two crucial Florida coral species left functionally extinct' by ocean heatwave
Staghorn and elkhorn corals in Florida are now functionally extinct after a 2023 marine heatwave caused near-total mortality, threatening reef ecosystems.