One of the most dire consequences of global climate change for coral reefs is the increased frequency and severity of mass coral bleaching events. This volume provides information on the causes and consequences of coral bleaching for coral reef ecosystems, from the level of individual colonies to ecosystems and at different spatial scales, as well as a detailed analysis of how it can be detected and quantified. Future scenarios based on modelling efforts and the potential mechanisms of acclimatisation and adaptation are reviewed. The much more severe coral bleaching events experienced on Caribbean coral reefs (compared with those of the Indo-Pacific) are discussed, as are the differences in bleaching susceptibility and recovery that have been observed on smaller geographic scales.

Introduction: Coral Bleaching Patterns, Processes, Causes and Consequences.- The Evolution of the CoralAlgal Symbiosis.- Coral Bleaching in Space and Time.- Climate Variability and Change: Monitoring Data and Evidence for Increased Coral Bleaching Stress.- Detecting and Monitoring Coral Bleaching Events.- Bleaching Resistance and the Role of Algal Endosymbionts.- Bleaching and Mortality Thresholds: How Much is Too Much?.- Consequences of Coral Bleaching for Sessile Reef Organisms.- Coral Bleaching and Consequences for Motile Reef Organisms: Past, Present and Uncertain Future Effects.- Future Scenarios: a Review of Modelling Efforts to Predict the Future of Coral Reefs in an Era of Climate Change.- Synthesis: Coral Bleaching Patterns, Processes, Causes and Consequences.