Coral communities exposed to differential large amplitude internal waves cooling and a severe heat stress in 2010 in the Andaman Sea

Tropical scleractinian corals are particularly vulnerable to global warming as elevated sea surface temperatures (SST) disrupt the delicate balance between the coral host and their algal endosymbionts, leading to symbiont expulsion, mass bleaching and mortality. While satellite sensing of SST has proven a good predictor of coral bleaching at the regional scale, there are large deviations in bleaching severity and mortality on the local scale, which are only poorly understood. Here, we show that internal waves play a major role in explaining local coral bleaching and mortality patterns in the Andaman Sea. In spite of a severe region-wide SST anomaly in May 2010, frequent upslope intrusions of cold sub-pycnocline waters due to breaking large amplitude internal waves (LAIW) alleviated heating and mitigated coral bleaching and mortality in shallow LAIW-exposed waters. In LAIW-sheltered waters, by contrast, bleaching susceptible species suffered severe bleaching and total mortality. These findings suggest that LAIW, which are ubiquitous in tropical stratified waters, benefit coral reefs during thermal stress and provide local refugia for bleaching susceptible corals. The swash zones of LAIW may thus be important, so far overlooked, conservation areas for the maintainance of coral diversity in a warming climate. The consideration of LAIW can significantly improve coral bleaching predictions and can provide a valuable tool for coral reef conservation and management.

Big Muddy River area assessment /

Examines a 1,731 square mile area in southern Illinois which has been designated a state Resource Rich Area.

Big Rivers area assessment /

"Critical Trends Assessment Program."--Cover.

Calumet area assessment.

"The Calumet area assessment examines 184.3 square miles (117,961 acres) in northeast Illinois."--P. iii.

Driftless area assessment.

"Examines an area in extreme northwestern Illinois formed by the Galena, Apple, and Plum River systems ... designated a state Resource Rich Area."--P. iii.

Du Page River area assessment.

Examines six subbasins of the Du Page River, covering approximately 372 square miles in northeastern Illinois, mostly in Du Page and Will Counties with small portions in Cook, Kane, Kendall, and Grundy Counties. One subbasin, the East Branch Du Page River, has been designated a state "Resource Rich Area".

Early accounts of the ecology of the Vermilion River Area /

This report is part of a series of reports on areas of Illinois where a public-private partnership has been formed to protect natural resources. The reports provide information on the natural and human resources of the areas as a basis for managing and improving their ecosystems. The determination of resource rich areas and development of ecosystem-based information and management programs in Illinois are the result of three processes-- the Critical Trends Assessment Program, the Conservation Congress, and the Water Resources and Land Use Priorities Task Force.

Embarras River area assessment /

"Critical Trends Assessment Program."--Cover.

Fox River area assessment /

"Critical Trends Assessment Progarm."--Cover.

Headwaters area assessment /

"Critical Trends Assessment Program."--Cover.

Illinois River Bluffs area assessment /

Critical Trends Assessment Program (CTAP)

Illinois River Bluffs area assessment /

"Critical Trends Assessment Program."--Cover.

Kishwaukee River area assessment /

"Critical Trends Assessment Program.--Cover.

Kankakee River area assessment /

"Critical Trends Assessment Program."--Cover.

Kaskaskia River area assessment.

Vols. 1 and 3 published 2000; v. 2 and 4: 1999.