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Introduction: Coral Bleaching–Patterns, Processes, Causes and Consequences

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Coral Bleaching

Part of the book series: Ecological Studies ((ECOLSTUD,volume 233))

Abstract

Since the first edition of this book was published in 2009, the pace of change in the world’s climate system has continued unabated with the past 3 years the warmest on record. IPCC-AR5 concluded that the human influence of climate is now clear. We have also witnessed more regional and global-scale mass coral bleaching events, culminating in the global event of 2014–2017. Mass coral bleaching, unequivocally due to global warming, is here to stay as a significant threat to the maintenance of tropical coral reef ecosystems. Our understanding of this phenomenon has also increased since 2009, and this second edition brings updated and new reviews of the many facets of coral bleaching.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Australian Institute of Marine Science, Townsville MC, QLD, Australia

    J. M. Lough & M. J. H. van Oppen

  2. ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, James Cook University, Townsville, QLD, Australia

    J. M. Lough

  3. School of BioSciences, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia

    M. J. H. van Oppen

Authors
  1. J. M. Lough
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  2. M. J. H. van Oppen
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Correspondence to J. M. Lough .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Australian Institute of Marine Science, Townsville, Queensland, Australia

    Madeleine J. H. van Oppen

  2. Australian Institute of Marine Science, Townsville, Queensland, Australia

    Janice M. Lough

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Lough, J.M., van Oppen, M.J.H. (2018). Introduction: Coral Bleaching–Patterns, Processes, Causes and Consequences. In: van Oppen, M., Lough, J. (eds) Coral Bleaching. Ecological Studies, vol 233. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-75393-5_1

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