Climate Change Threatens Nearly Half of Reef-Building Coral Species

(MENAFN) Almost 44% of the world's reef-building coral species face an increased risk of extinction, with rising sea temperatures driven by climate change identified as the primary threat, according to a new scientific study.

The research, published Thursday in Nature, evaluated 892 reef-building coral species using the International Union for Conservation of Nature's (IUCN) Red List assessment framework.

Among the 774 species for which sufficient information was available, researchers classified 340 as threatened. This included 33 species categorized as critically endangered, 251 considered endangered and 56 listed as vulnerable.

Scientists affiliated with institutions including the Australian Institute of Marine Science and the University of Queensland analyzed changes in coral populations alongside projections of heat-related stress. Their findings update an earlier assessment conducted in 2008.

The researchers identified ocean warming and the resulting heat stress as the leading factors behind anticipated declines in coral populations.

Reef-building corals are marine organisms that produce hard skeletons, creating the structural foundations of tropical coral reefs. When ocean temperatures become excessively high, these animals can expel the algae living within their tissues. These algae supply essential nutrients and contribute to the corals' distinctive coloration.

This phenomenon, known as coral bleaching, weakens the organisms and leaves them increasingly susceptible to starvation, disease and eventual death, threatening the health and stability of coral reef ecosystems worldwide.

MENAFN20102026000045017640ID1111835308