Title:

Trend in Coral "Hot Spots" in the Florida Keys: Implications for Ecosystem Restoration

Coral reefs in the region, once among the largest globally, have experienced significant degradation due to rising sea temperatures, which contribute to coral bleaching events. This study looked at the effects of heat stress on the Florida Keys reefs and the increasing ocean temperatures in the area. The study focused on the rising number of Hot Spots (HS) over a 40-year period. Data from the NOAA 5 km Regional Virtual Stations Latest Stress Level, Data, and Graphs website was used to run a data analysis on the increasing amount of HS per year. An average number of HS was calculated per year and then a trend in average annual HS was determined using the non-parametric Sen’s slope and tested for significance using Mann-Kendall text for p-value < 0.05. This found an increase of 0.06 HS per year (p-value of 1.402e-08). The data shows that the amount of heat stress on coral (using HS as an indicator) in the Florida Keys has been increasing each year. This upward trend is consistent with global observations of rising ocean temperatures and underscores the growing threat to coral reefs in the Florida Keys.

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