Biology
Thermal Tolerance and Climate Change Vulnerability in Coral Reef Fishes
Quick fact
Many coral reef fishes already live near their upper thermal limits, often with only a few degrees of safety margin before experiencing heat stress. A single marine heatwave can cause mass die-offs, as seen in events like the 2020 Red Sea bleaching.
Why this is interesting
Tropical reef fish live in warm water—so warm that even a 2°C spike can be lethal. But they've thrived there for millennia. What makes them so vulnerable to climate change?