Future of coral bleaching research

• Andréa G Grottoli
• Ann Marie Hulver
• Rebecca Vega Thurber
• Robert J Toonen
• Emily R Schmeltzer
• Ilsa B Kuffner
• Katie L Barott
• Iliana B Baums
• Karl D Castillo
• Leila Chapron
• Marie Alice Coffroth
• David J Combosch
• Adrienne M S Correa
• Eric D Crandall
• Megan Donahue
• Jose M Eirin-Lopez
• Thomas Felis
• Christine Ferrier-Pagès
• Hugo B Harrison
• Scott F Heron
• Danwei Huang
• Adriana Humanes
• Carly D Kenkel
• Thomas Krueger
• Joshua Madin
• Mikhail V Matz
• Lisa C McManus
• Monica Medina
• Erinn M Muller
• Jacqueline L Padilla-Gamiño
• Hollie M Putnam
• Yvonne Sawall
• Tom Shlesinger
• Michael J Sweet
• Christian R Voolstra
• Vriginia M Weis
• Christian Wild
• Henry C Wu

Abstract

Coral bleaching is the largest global threat to coral reef ecosystem persistence this century. Advancing our understanding of coral bleaching and developing solutions to protect corals and the reefs they support are critical. In the present article, we, the US National Science Foundation–funded Coral Bleaching Research Coordination Network, outline future directions for coral bleaching research. Specifically, we address the need for embedded inclusiveness, codevelopment, and capacity building as a foundation for excellence in coral bleaching research and the critical role of coral-bleaching science in shaping policy. We outline a path for research innovation and technology and propose the formation of an international coral bleaching consortium that, in coordination with existing multinational organizations, could be a hub for planning, coordinating, and integrating global-scale coral bleaching research, innovation, and mitigation strategies. This proposed strategy for future coral bleaching research could facilitate a step-function change in how we address the coral bleaching crisis.

• DOI: 10.1093/biosci/biaf066

Cite this activity

@article{Grottoli2025,
  Title = {Future of coral bleaching research},
  Author = {Grottoli, Andréa G and Hulver, Ann Marie and Thurber, Rebecca Vega and Toonen, Robert J and Schmeltzer, Emily R and Kuffner, Ilsa B and Barott, Katie L and Baums, Iliana B and Castillo, Karl D and Chapron, Leila and Coffroth, Marie Alice and Combosch, David J and Correa, Adrienne M S and Crandall, Eric D and Donahue, Megan and Eirin-Lopez, Jose M and Felis, Thomas and Ferrier-Pagès, Christine and Harrison, Hugo B and Heron, Scott F and Huang, Danwei and Humanes, Adriana and Kenkel, Carly D and Krueger, Thomas and Madin, Joshua and Matz, Mikhail V and McManus, Lisa C and Medina, Monica and Muller, Erinn M and Padilla-Gamiño, Jacqueline L and Putnam, Hollie M and Sawall, Yvonne and Shlesinger, Tom and Sweet, Michael J and Voolstra, Christian R and Weis, Vriginia M and Wild, Christian and Wu, Henry C},
  Editor = {},
  Journal = {BioScience},
  Year = {2025},
  Pages = {biaf066},
  Doi = {10.1093/biosci/biaf066},
  Abstract = {Coral bleaching is the largest global threat to coral reef ecosystem persistence this century. Advancing our understanding of coral bleaching and developing solutions to protect corals and the reefs they support are critical. In the present article, we, the US National Science Foundation–funded Coral Bleaching Research Coordination Network, outline future directions for coral bleaching research. Specifically, we address the need for embedded inclusiveness, codevelopment, and capacity building as a foundation for excellence in coral bleaching research and the critical role of coral-bleaching science in shaping policy. We outline a path for research innovation and technology and propose the formation of an international coral bleaching consortium that, in coordination with existing multinational organizations, could be a hub for planning, coordinating, and integrating global-scale coral bleaching research, innovation, and mitigation strategies. This proposed strategy for future coral bleaching research could facilitate a step-function change in how we address the coral bleaching crisis.},
}

TY  - JOUR
AU  - Grottoli, Andréa G
AU  - Hulver, Ann Marie
AU  - Thurber, Rebecca Vega
AU  - Toonen, Robert J
AU  - Schmeltzer, Emily R
AU  - Kuffner, Ilsa B
AU  - Barott, Katie L
AU  - Baums, Iliana B
AU  - Castillo, Karl D
AU  - Chapron, Leila
AU  - Coffroth, Marie Alice
AU  - Combosch, David J
AU  - Correa, Adrienne M S
AU  - Crandall, Eric D
AU  - Donahue, Megan
AU  - Eirin-Lopez, Jose M
AU  - Felis, Thomas
AU  - Ferrier-Pagès, Christine
AU  - Harrison, Hugo B
AU  - Heron, Scott F
AU  - Huang, Danwei
AU  - Humanes, Adriana
AU  - Kenkel, Carly D
AU  - Krueger, Thomas
AU  - Madin, Joshua
AU  - Matz, Mikhail V
AU  - McManus, Lisa C
AU  - Medina, Monica
AU  - Muller, Erinn M
AU  - Padilla-Gamiño, Jacqueline L
AU  - Putnam, Hollie M
AU  - Sawall, Yvonne
AU  - Shlesinger, Tom
AU  - Sweet, Michael J
AU  - Voolstra, Christian R
AU  - Weis, Vriginia M
AU  - Wild, Christian
AU  - Wu, Henry C
TI  - Future of coral bleaching research
T2  - BioScience
PY  - 2025
SP  - biaf066
DO  - 10.1093/biosci/biaf066
AB  - Coral bleaching is the largest global threat to coral reef ecosystem persistence this century. Advancing our understanding of coral bleaching and developing solutions to protect corals and the reefs they support are critical. In the present article, we, the US National Science Foundation–funded Coral Bleaching Research Coordination Network, outline future directions for coral bleaching research. Specifically, we address the need for embedded inclusiveness, codevelopment, and capacity building as a foundation for excellence in coral bleaching research and the critical role of coral-bleaching science in shaping policy. We outline a path for research innovation and technology and propose the formation of an international coral bleaching consortium that, in coordination with existing multinational organizations, could be a hub for planning, coordinating, and integrating global-scale coral bleaching research, innovation, and mitigation strategies. This proposed strategy for future coral bleaching research could facilitate a step-function change in how we address the coral bleaching crisis.
ER  - 

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