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Quantifying coral reef–ocean interactions is critical for predicting reef futures under climate change

Nature Ecology & Evolution volume 9, pages 1754–1756 (2025) Cite this article

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Coral reefs are inextricably linked to their surrounding seascape, ecologically shaped by ocean circulation patterns and dependent on upwelled nutrients and planktonic subsidies. To better predict coral reef futures, we must more effectively quantify and incorporate these fundamental biophysical interactions.

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Fig. 1: Peer-reviewed ocean–reef interaction studies that link coral reefs, upwelling mechanisms, and/or oceanic subsidies.
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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Ocean Sciences, Bangor University, Menai Bridge, UK

    Laura E. Richardson, Gareth J. Williams, Tim Jackson-Bué & J. A. Mattias Green

  2. Marine Science Program, Biological and Environmental Science and Engineering Division, King Abdullah University of Science and Technology, Thuwal, Saudi Arabia

    Laura E. Richardson, Aislinn Dunne & Michael D. Fox

  3. School of Geography, Earth and Atmospheric Sciences, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia

    Tiffany H. Morrison

  4. College of Science & Engineering, James Cook University, Townsville, Queensland, Australia

    Tiffany H. Morrison

  5. Environmental Policy Group, Wageningen University and Research, Wageningen, The Netherlands

    Tiffany H. Morrison

Authors
  1. Laura E. Richardson
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  2. Gareth J. Williams
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  3. Aislinn Dunne
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  4. Tim Jackson-Bué
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  5. J. A. Mattias Green
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  6. Tiffany H. Morrison
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  7. Michael D. Fox
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Corresponding authors

Correspondence to Laura E. Richardson or Michael D. Fox.

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The authors declare no competing interests.

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Complete list of studies identified through literature review and represented in Fig. 1

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Richardson, L.E., Williams, G.J., Dunne, A. et al. Quantifying coral reef–ocean interactions is critical for predicting reef futures under climate change. Nat Ecol Evol 9, 1754–1756 (2025). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41559-025-02839-9

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