Florida Corals Face Functional Extinction
Florida’s once-thriving coral reefs, vital for marine life and coastal protection, are now in crisis. A new study has revealed that elkhorn and staghorn corals—two cornerstone species that built Florida’s reef system for over 10,000 years—are now “functionally extinct.” The finding follows record-breaking ocean temperatures that hit over 90°F during the summer of 2023, the highest recorded in the region in more than 150 years.
Heatwave Devastation and Coral Collapse
Corals are extremely sensitive to heat. When temperatures rise, they expel the algae that give them color and energy, leading to bleaching. If the heat persists, the corals die. In 2023, a three-month marine heatwave swept across Florida’s reef system, from the Dry Tortugas to the St. Lucie Inlet, devastating over 52,000 colonies of elkhorn and staghorn corals monitored by researchers from NOAA’s Coral Reef Watch and Chicago’s Shedd Aquarium.
By early 2024, the southern reef region had lost 98–100% of its colonies. Although a few corals remain in northern areas, scientists warn they exist in numbers too small to sustain the ecosystem. These species, once dominant reef builders, no longer exist in densities capable of maintaining the reef’s structure or supporting marine life.
“The loss of these corals triggers a cascade of effects,” said Ross Cunning, a biologist at the Shedd Aquarium. “Reef growth slows, fish lose shelter, and coastlines face increased storm damage and erosion.”
A Global Warning and a Narrow Window for Action
The study’s findings serve as a global warning. Coral reefs across the world are facing similar threats from rising ocean temperatures and climate change. According to climate projections, severe bleaching events could become an annual occurrence by 2040, making natural coral recovery nearly impossible.
Scientists have launched coral restoration projects, breeding and rearing colonies in nurseries both onshore and offshore. However, their success depends heavily on reducing the frequency and severity of future heatwaves. “Functional extinction doesn’t mean total extinction,” explained Keri O’Neil, director of the Coral Conservation Program at the Florida Aquarium. “With human intervention and better ocean conditions, recovery can still happen.”
The researchers urge immediate and aggressive action to cut climate-heating pollution and safeguard remaining reef ecosystems. While the current situation is alarming, experts stress that hope remains if swift global action is taken. “This should not be viewed as a message of despair,” said Cunning. “We still have a chance to act—but the window is rapidly closing.”
