Why some reefs recover faster than others—mathematical model spotlights coral recruitment patterns

Climate-driven disturbances such as marine heat waves are rapidly reducing coral cover and degrading reef ecosystems worldwide. Using a mathematical model, a research team led by Subhendu Chakraborty at the Leibniz Center for Tropical Marine Research (ZMT) has identified a key mechanism that helps explain why, after a disturbance, some corals recover faster than others and contributes to single out traits relevant for bolstering restoration strategies. The new study, published in the Journal of the Royal Society Interface, focuses on coral recruitment—the process through which coral larvae settle and grow into adulthood.