EL-NIÑO - SOUTHERN OSCILLATION IN 2023-2024: CORAL BLEACHING AND MORTALITY IN THE STATE OF BAHIA

• Grant number: 24/13329-5
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: November 01, 2024
• Status: Discontinued
• Field of knowledge: Physical Sciences and Mathematics - Oceanography - Biological Oceanography
• Principal Investigator: Miguel Mies
• Grantee: Julia Yumi Ibanhez
• Host Institution: Instituto Oceanográfico (IO). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Paulo , SP, Brazil
• Associated scholarship(s): 25/02078-4 - THERMAL RESISTANCE AND RESILIENCE OF TROPICAL EAST PACIFIC CORAL REEFS DURING THE 2023/2024 EL NIÑO, BE.EP.IC

Abstract

Reefs are a bank of rock or biogenic formations, mainly composed of corals, that refuge 25% of marine species and protect the coast. Sensitive to the increase of CO2, which warms and acidifies the oceans, these organisms suffer from bleaching and death. Global Mass Bleaching Events (GMBEs) are becoming more frequent due to global warming. With the El Niño Southern Oscillation (ENSO 2023/24) heatwave arriving and impacting, it is necessary to monitor the health of corals. So, this proposal, in partnership with the Coral Vivo Project, is monitoring coral bleaching in Bahia to understand the impacts of global warming and predict responses regarding the tolerance and resilience of Bahia's corals. Using the Photoquad software and the NOAA Coral Reef Watch database, photo quadrats from four locations (Corumbau, Abrolhos, Recife de Fora, and Baía de Todos os Santos) will be analyzed. Data on bleaching, mortality, algal growth, and temperature measures (DHW metric) will be statistically analyzed over time, with photo quadrats taken before, during, and after the peak heat period.