NCEAS Project 10981

Can coral reefs survive climate change?

Baskett, Marissa

Activity	Dates	Further Information
Postdoctoral Fellowship	13th September 2006—12th September 2007	Participant List

Abstract
Climate change threatens the persistence of coral reef ecosystems in the near future through the increase in mass coral bleaching events associated with the increased frequency and magnitude of temperature extremes. However, corals and their symbiotic algae may have the potential to respond to climate change through community shifts, physiological acclimation, and genetic adaptation. I will use analytical models and computer simulations to explore (1) the potential for coral communities to respond to a rapidly changing climate, (2) the potential indicators of coral communities most likely to survive future climate change, and (3) the interaction between additional anthropogenic impacts and coral responses to climate change. These models will further the understanding of the interaction between evolutionary and ecological processes, inform conservation management decisions, and create a theoretical framework for synthesizing coral bleaching data.

Type	Products of NCEAS Research
Publication	Baskett, Marissa 2007. Simple fisheries and marine reserve models with species interactions: An overview and example with facilitation. CalCOFI Reports. Vol: 48. Pages 71-81.
Publication	Baskett, Marissa ; Halpern, Ben S.In press. Marine Ecosystem Services. Edited by Levin, S.A..Guide to Ecology. Princeton University Press. Princeton, NJ.
Presentation	Baskett, Marissa 2006. Biodiversity and spatial management: Simple models of interacting species. California Cooperative Oceanic Fisheries Investigations Annual Conference, 5 December 2006. Pacific Grove, CA.
Presentation	Baskett, Marissa 2007. The role of symbiont diversity in coral response to climate change. Western Society of Naturalists Annual Meeting, 10 November 2007. Ventura, CA.
Presentation	Baskett, Marissa 2007. Why evolution matters to conservation. Dissertation Initiative for the Advancement of Climate Change Research Symposium, 12 September 2007. Kilauea Volcano, HI.