How will coral reefs respond to climate change? Looking for answers amongst corals living in extreme environments

 Shallow tropical and subtropical coral reefs are considered flagship ecosystems of both coastal and oceanic environments because of their disproportionately high diversity and productivity, but they are also a cause for concern because of their extreme sensitivity to environmental (climatic) change. Localised impacts, such as pollution and unsustainable harvesting, as well as broad-scale changes, such as ocean warming and acidification, have intensified over the last few decades; simultaneously, very visible declines in ‘reef health’, in particular the diversity and abundance of species that are present, and consequently the ecosystem services that are afforded, have been observed worldwide. Such continued declines carry potentially immeasurable impacts for humanity: over 1/4 billion people worldwide, including some isolated indigenous populations, are entirely dependent on viable coral reef ecosystems for subsistence and coastal protection. Reef biodiversity may also contain (as yet untapped) potential bio-medicinal and bio-technological applications. Much rests on understanding how continued environmental change will further alter coral reefs and consequently what efforts and investments are needed to effectively manage and conserve these key ecosystems.