The Inequity of the Global Threat to Coral Reefs

Human activity threatens coral reef ecosystems worldwide through overfishing, marine pollution, and disease (Hughes et al. 2003). In recent years, climate change also has emerged as a possible threat to coral reefs. Warming ocean temperatures have been blamed for mass coral bleaching events in the past decade, and this warming may lead to a rapid increase in the frequency and severity of coral bleaching in coming decades (Donner et al. 2005). Over the next century, higher concentrations of atmospheric carbon dioxide, and associated changes in ocean chemistry, may also reduce coral calcification rates and rates of reef accretion, further endangering coral reef ecosystems (Kleypas et al. 1999). Although the ability of different corals and their symbionts to adapt to changes in climate and ocean chemistry is a source of debate in the scientific community (Baker et al. 2004), climate change is expected to pose a serious threat to the function—and potentially even to the survival—of many of the world's coral reef ecosystems.