Temporal Dynamics and Recovery Patterns of Reef Benthic Communities in the Maldives Following a Mass Global Bleaching Event

Coral reefs are crucial ecosystems for marine biodiversity but are increasingly threatened by anthropogenic pressures and climate anomalies. The 2016 global bleaching event resulted in widespread coral mortality, altering reef structure and benthic communities. Here, we examine the evolution of Maldivian reefs from 2015 to 2023 using long-term monitoring data to assess post-disturbance dynamics. Analyses of 26 benthic descriptors revealed severe impacts from thermal stress, with heterogeneous recovery patterns. Reef-building capacity, which reflects the reef’s accretion potential and is mainly sustained by primary (e.g., Acropora branching corals) and secondary constructors (e.g., Tridacna spp.), rebounded substantially, while binders (e.g., coralline algae) and bafflers (e.g., erect sponges) remained depleted. Among growth forms, fast-growing branching and digitate corals, despite substantial declines, drove rapid recovery. Massive corals were less affected and continued growing, while encrusting corals declined steadily over the period. Post-bleaching community composition shifted markedly toward increased abiotic cover and reduced coral dominance, with partial reversion by 2023. Despite the 2016 collapse in constructional capacity, most reefs exhibited notable recovery within seven years. These findings underscore the moderate yet promising resilience of Maldivian reefs, exceeding previous bleaching events, and emphasize the importance of long-term monitoring to understand ecosystem responses under accelerating climate stress.