Environment & Marine Ecology
Caribbean hard coral cover has declined by 48% between 1980 and 2024, primarily due to extreme ocean heat and repeated coral bleaching events, signalling a severe crisis for marine ecosystems.
Hard corals, also known as stony corals, are marine animals that secrete calcium carbonate skeletons, forming the rigid reef structures that support nearly one-third of marine biodiversity. Reef-building hard corals—such as elkhorn and staghorn corals—grow in colonies and construct limestone reef frameworks. In contrast, soft corals like sea fingers and sea whips are flexible, lack stony skeletons, and do not form reefs.
The loss of hard corals threatens fisheries, coastal protection, and marine food webs, underscoring the urgency of climate action.
APSC relevance: Important for climate change impacts, coral bleaching, marine biodiversity, and global environmental change.
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