Identification of two-phase coral reef recovery patterns

Updated: 2025-03-21

This dataset is used to identify two-phase recovery patterns. These patterns result in a period of slow recovery following a major disturbance (coral cover reduced to < 10%), and has serious implications for the potential of reef recovery if major disturbances occur at a frequency of 5 years or less. The coral cover data is extracted from the LTMP and MMP at the transect level, recovery trajectories are identified according statistically significant (p < 0.05) declines using a paired t-test between subsequent surveys. Two-phase recoveries are identified through estimating the recovery rate per unit cover, coupled with a two-segment regression with change-point detection. Data driven simulation studies are performed to determine the impact of the two-phase recovery under different disturbance frequency regimes.