Resilience is defined as the ability of a system to maintain key functions and processes in the face of stresses or pressures by either resisting or adapting to change. Resilience consists of two components: resistance, which is the ability to absorb or resist impacts, and recovery, the ability to recover from them. Coral reef resilience refers to building resistance and recovery potential into reef ecosystems by reducing or eliminating stressors (e.g., overfishing, pollution, coastal development). The term “reef resilience” refers to coral reefs that are able to bounce back or recover after experiencing a stressful event such as bleaching caused by elevated temperatures.
