We are a leader in coral reef conservation science.
Our proactive research has shown how coral reefs can successfully adapt to the effects of climate change, if humans create the conditions that help reefs evolve naturally.
We believe that strong science, key alliances, and community engagement are essential to saving and supporting reefs.
Our current scientific work includes:
Spearheading new research into coral adaptation
We are launching, supporting, and interpreting scientific research to better understand how coral reefs adapt to climate change and the conditions that help encourage that evolutionary process.
Groundtruthing datasets
We are galvanizing a global team of scientists and conservationists to “ground truth” coral reef data that is detected by satellites through the Allen Coral Atlas partnership.
Assessing adaptation potential
We are leveraging the groundbreaking Allen Coral Atlas, plus other available datasets, to identify networks of reefs that have a higher potential of adapting to climate change so they can be prioritized in conservation efforts.
Engaging with partners
We are working with a network of experts and thought leaders in coral reef conservation to integrate the results of our scientific research into conservation interventions and policies.
Regional field work
We are incorporating adaptation science into regional conservation efforts in the Hawaiian Islands and Mesoamerican region, and building local datasets about coral reef health and water quality to inform “on the ground” conservation efforts.
Featured Science Program
Coral Bleaching Program
We’re working with the Allen Coral Atlas to unite a global network of scientists who can get into the water and confirm coral bleaching data that satellites are detecting from space.
Read our latest scientific articles.
Whitepaper: Forecasting Climate Sanctuaries for Securing the Future of Coral Reefs
We highlight the environmental and biological factors that predict the ongoing climate impactsof coral reefs, and explore the potential for adaptation, acclimation and stress tolerance of coral reefs.… Continue Reading →
Assessing human well-being constructs with environmental and equity aspects: A review of the landscape
Based on the findings of our review, we identify several pathways forward for the development and implementation of well-being frameworks that can inform efforts to leverage well-being for public policy.
Evolution reverses the effect of network structure on metapopulation persistence
Current ecological theory predicts that random networks with dispersal shortcuts connecting distant sites can promote persistence when there is no capacity for evolution. This paper demonstrates that incorporating evolution and environmental heterogeneity fundamentally alters theoretical predictions regarding persistence in ecological networks.
Transitioning to co‑management in Caribbean reef fisheries: Tela Bay case study
We analyzed the 5-year transition process of a Caribbean reef fishery from top-down management to co-management. Despite previous research stating that the Caribbean in general, and Honduras in particular, are not ready for collaborative management approaches we saw that the Tela Bay was able to successfully implement a co-management system.
Ecomorphological analyses reveal impact of land-based stressors on stock structure of two commercially important fish species in the Caribbean
Many Caribbean nations lack information on the ecology and biology of marine species, which are essential for food security and livelihoods in the region. This study aimed to advance the knowledge of two commercially important fish species, lane snapper (Lutjanus synagris) and white grunt (Haemulon plumierii), using cost-efficient techniques.
Science Videos
Our scientific work is built around collaborations. It unifies academics, nonprofits, corporate partners, and conservationists, and it bridges the gap between science and communities. Our work at the local level involves communities in science that typically occurs behind closed doors—our coral reefs are better off when we are all empowered with more information.
Science Stories
Scientists Believe Evolution Could Save Coral Reefs, If We Let It
Research shows protecting “hot reefs” is key to saving coral reefs OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA – July 29, 2022 – Coral reefs can adapt to climate change if given the chance to evolve, according to a study led by Coral Reef Alliance, Rutgers University, the University of Washington and other institutions. The recent study, published in the… Continue Reading →
Could Underwater Thermometers Help Save Coral Reefs from Climate Change?
Forty underwater temperature loggers now sit underwater on coral reefs across the Bay Islands in Honduras. Their purpose? To identify the temperature range that corals can withstand and typically experience within a year. These ONSET TidBits, as they’re known, measure water temperatures every minute and store the data internally. Every four to five months, a… Continue Reading →
Coral Reefs Can Adapt to Climate Change – Here’s How
By: Ben Charo, Conservation Science Program Coordinator If we don’t curb greenhouse gas emissions and slow the warming of our oceans, 99% of the world’s coral reefs are predicted to be gone by the end of this century. Indeed, reefs are already in serious decline. So it might surprise you to hear that within the… Continue Reading →
Coral Restoration Likely Won’t Be Enough to Save Coral Reefs. That’s Why We Focus on Reducing Marine Threats
Why don’t we focus on coral restoration? It’s a question we, at CORAL, have been asked time and time again. We address overfishing, minimize water pollution, support local communities, monitor coral bleaching, and lead cutting-edge research on coral adaptation to climate change…but we don’t generally work on coral restoration projects. Our decision comes down to… Continue Reading →
Our 2022 Impact: Protecting Coral Reefs that Can Adapt to Climate Change
Could a map be used to estimate the likelihood that a coral reef can adapt to climate change? That’s one of the biggest questions driving our Global Conservation Science team these days. In collaboration with the Allen Coral Atlas (the Atlas), a global map and monitoring system for shallow water coral reefs, we are leading… Continue Reading →
The Allen Coral Atlas Introduces the First Comprehensive Map of Shallow Water Coral Reefs
On September 8, 2021, it was officially announced that a comprehensive map and monitoring system of the world’s shallow water coral reefs, the Allen Coral Atlas, was completed. This tremendous effort was led by Arizona State University in collaboration with scientists, universities, private entities, and NGOs across the globe—including the Coral Reef Alliance. The tool… Continue Reading →
New Research Turns Basic Ecological Theory on its Head
In a lot of ways, corals are like trees—they stay rooted in one spot their whole lives, and they disperse their young into the environment. With many trees, their young typically fall to the ground and stay relatively close. But with corals, their young are moved by ocean currents that can carry them thousands of… Continue Reading →
Uniting A Global Coral Bleaching Response Network
Coral bleaching events make headlines every year. And each year, bleaching events have become more frequent and severe. Take Australia’s Great Barrier Reef, for example: In the last five years, the reef has been hit by three record-breaking coral bleaching events—one in 2016, one in 2017 and another in 2020. But the Allen Coral Atlas… Continue Reading →
Cordelia Banks, a site that offers hope to the Mesoamerican Reef
This article is translated from the original article written in Spanish by MAR Fund. Written By Lucy Calderón, Communications Intern at MAR Fund, and Translated by Centro Oxford Popularly known as staghorn corals, due to the similarity of their structure with that of the antler of the mammal in question, the Acropora cervicornis corals are… Continue Reading →
Could Cleaner Water Mean Farewell for Coral Disease?
Lea esto en español When improperly treated sewage enters the marine environment, it can have devastating effects on a coral reef. Not only does it bring bacteria that can pose a threat to human health, but it also brings nutrients that fuel the growth of algae—a fierce competitor in the coral reef ecosystem. Algae compete… Continue Reading →