(CNS): As coral reefs around the world, including those in Cayman Islands waters, face another this year, scientists at the Central Caribbean Marine Institute believe the reefs around Little Cayman may prove more resilient than others in the region because they are healthier and face fewer stressors than other reefs. Following last summer’s long and extreme marine heatwave, the reefs monitored by CCMI were badly bleached, and almost half the corals ultimately died. But key reef-building species showed lower mortality and higher rates of recovery, which may help protect the coral this summer as sea temperatures in the region continue to climb.
According to the CCMI’s 2023 , bleaching off Little Cayman was severe. The summer of 2023 was the most drastic marine heatwave on record for Little Cayman, three times more intense than any previous heatwave. The island experienced 17 degree heating weeks from July to December.
Researchers found that 90% of corals in Little Cayman bleached during that marine heatwave, and over 50% subsequently died, most of which were ‘weedy’ species. This was attributed in part to higher coral cover to start with and the presence of more susceptible species that are not present on most reefs with more stressors. However, because the reefs around Little Cayman are protected from the added pressures of local threats such as pollution and overfishing, they have shown better long-term recovery.
Before the bleaching event, coral cover in Little Cayma.
