3D Imaging Reveals Resilience: Storm Impact on Coral Reef Structural Complexity

Extreme weather events are increasing in frequency and magnitude. Consequently, it is important to understand their effects and remediation. We studied the impact of a powerful storm on coral reef structural complexity using novel computational tools and detailed 3D reconstructions captured at seven sites in three time-points over three years. We employed six geometrical metrics, two of which are new algorithms for calculating fractal-dimension of reefs in full 3D. Three metrics showed a significant difference between time-points, i.e., decline and subsequent recovery in structural complexity. We also explored the changes in fractal dimension per size category and found a similar trend. A multivariate analysis helped us to reveal which sites were affected the most and their relative recovery. The full picture suggests that the reef has not gone through a phase-shift and is returning to its prior state w.r.t. structural complexity.