Variable response of Red Sea coral communities to recent disturbance events along a latitudinal gradient

Coral reefs are experiencing a dramatic loss of hard coral abundance and associated habitat structure from myriad local global factors. Here, utilizing U–Th radiometric age-dating death assemblages, we investigated patterns mortality the eastern margin Red Sea along latitudinal gradient (Yanbu, 24o N; Thuwal, 22o Al-Lith, 19o Farasan Banks, 18o N) in 2018 2019. In all four regions, ages situ dead Acropora Pocillopora colonies were largely confined to late twentieth early twenty-first century. During century, was found be synchronous with previously documented bleaching events 2010 2015 and, at one site (Farasan Banks), an outbreak crown-of-thorns starfish (COTS) 2009. The most northern site, Yanbu, had highest relative percentage live (42 ± 4%) living Acropora, may serve as refugium under climate warming scenarios. For three southern regions (Thuwal, Banks) benthic mostly comprised corals. southernmost survey underwent change COTS 2009 event 2015, lowest (6 2%), massive Porites, no or Pocillopora. Our results highlight asynchronous impact disturbance on emphasize regional differences recovery ecosystem state.