Branqueamento de corais (Cnidaria: Scleractinia) em recifes de corais e ambientes recifais brasileiros: uma revisão.

Abstract

Coral bleaching is a phenomenon that occurs when these organisms undergo some type of stress, which may be related to changes in temperature, light, or nutrients. Under stress, corals expel the symbiotic algae called zooxanthellae that live in their tissues and provide corals with most of their energy and color. The present work aimed to review, based on scientific literature, the productions of knowledge about the phenomenon of coral bleaching (Cnidaria: Scleractinia) in Brazil, published in the last ten years. This work adopted an exploratory and dissertative methodology, focusing on conducting a literature review. The method employed involved the collection of various studies for the topic in question. These works were then carefully analyzed to determine their suitability and relevance for the synthesis of the literature review from August to October 2023. This process allowed a deep and critical analysis of existing studies, providing a more complete understanding of the topic. 20 works were found, which include dissertation (undergraduate, master’s and doctoral) and scientific articles. The prevailing idea found in the works on the subject was that coral bleaching is strictly linked to the increase in sea surface temperature, which in turn is linked to global warming. However, there is a lack of studies seeking practical and applicable solutions to prevent this phenomenon, this shows the urgency of more research aimed at protecting corals.