High ocean temperatures may slow deadly coral disease, new study finds

July 16, 2025 • Diana Udel

2025   ·   climate-change     ·   research  

A new study by scientists at AOML and the University of Miami’s Cooperative Institute for Marine and Atmospheric Sciences (CIMAS) revealed a surprising discovery in the fight against one of the most destructive coral diseases in the Atlantic and Caribbean: high sea surface temperatures may slow down the spread of Stony Coral Tissue Loss Disease (SCTLD).

First reported off the coast of Miami in 2014, SCTLD has since devastated coral reefs across the Florida Keys, Puerto Rico, Mexico, and parts of Latin America. The disease rapidly strips corals of their tissue, leaving behind bare skeletons. Despite intensive investigation, the exact cause of SCTLD remains unknown. However, environmental factors—such as ocean warming and nutrient pollution—are believed to influence its progression (Palacio-Castro et al., 2025).

Continue reading



Enjoy Reading This Article?

Here are some more articles you might like to read next:

  • New study demonstrates the impacts of multiple stressors on reef-building corals
  • Study demonstrates buffering of some Florida reefs Against OA
  • South Florida’s nearshore reefs less vulnerable to OA
  • Pacific corals and SCTLD
  • Meet the women advancing NOAA’s marine heatwave research