USGS St. Petersburg Science Seminar Series

Globally, coral reefs have been experiencing severe declines in keystone coral species, leading to significant reductions in topographic complexity and raising concerns about their long-term function and resilience. Over the past four decades, coral cover on the Florida Keys' reefs has dramatically decreased from over 25% pre-1980s to less than 5% on some reefs today. In response, large-scale restoration efforts, such as the Florida Keys: Mission Iconic Reef Restoration Initiative, have been launched to rehabilitate these degraded reefs. Despite these efforts, in the summer and fall of 2023, reefs along the Florida Reef Tract endured another devastating heat wave that induced widespread coral bleaching and mortality. This prompted researchers and restoration practitioners worldwide to pause and re-evaluate current restoration methodologies and priorities. While rising seawater temperatures are the primary driver of coral bleaching, other less studied environmental factors such as light intensity, water flow, nutrient levels, and reef topography also significantly impact coral microclimates and bleaching response. Several recent studies exploring artificial shading and cooling technologies have shown that small-scale implementing physical interventions, like artificial shades or cooling, before, during, or after heat stress can reduce mortality and enhance recovery. However, these interventions are often expensive and impractical at larger scales. Interestingly, there is comparatively little known about nature-based mitigation solutions. We developed new ways to use Structure-from-Motion (SfM) data products, such as 3D point clouds, orthomosaics, and digital elevation models, to identify and predict areas of natural shade and water flow patterns on reefs. These methods provide exciting opportunities for researchers to address essential questions about reef geomorphology, ecology, and hydrodynamics. By using these data products, scientists and restoration practitioners can plan more targeted restoration practices, explore variability in bleaching responses, and potentially enhance coral survivorship during future thermal events.