Coral reef ecosystems are increasingly threatened by accelerating ocean warming, which has intensified the frequency and magnitude of bleaching and mortality events. This study quantified species-specific thermal tolerance by exposing four ecologically significant coral taxa — Acropora digitifera, Acropora pruinosa, Porites spp., and Goniopora spp. — to five controlled temperature treatments (23°C, 26°C, 29°C, 32°C, and 35°C). Pronounced interspecific variation was observed. All taxa experienced complete mortality at 35°C. At 32°C, Porites spp. and Goniopora spp. maintained partial survival (33.3%) and exhibited limited tissue regeneration, while both Acropora species suffered total mortality. Moderate stress occurred at 29°C, where Acropora species exhibited selective mortality but Porites and Goniopora maintained full survival. These findings demonstrate substantial species-dependent thermal tolerance and highlight the role of resilient taxa in future reef assemblages. The results also emphasize the importance of integrating experimental physiological evidence into adaptive coral conservation strategies.

Zhiyu Cheng. Exploring the Relationship between Coral Mortality, Growth Trends, and Seawater Temperature. Academic Journal of Environment & Earth Science (2025), Vol. 7, Issue 5: 17-23. https://doi.org/10.25236/AJEE.2025.070503.

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