The new face of the northernmost coral reefs of the Maldives revisited after 13 years

Coral reef ecosystems in Ihavandhippolhu Atoll, the northernmost atoll of the Maldives, have undergone significant changes following the 1998, 2010, and 2016 bleaching events. This study evaluates the recovery after 13 years following repeated bleaching events and the shift in coral reef composition in this remote and scantly explored region of the Indian Ocean. Data collected in January 2024 from ten strategic sites within the atoll reveal substantial shifts in benthic composition compared to earlier surveys from 2011. We observed a significant increase in overall hard coral cover, with resilient taxa—such as massive and encrusting corals—becoming dominant after bleaching events. In contrast, more sensitive genera like branching and tabular Acropora have declined sharply, indicating a shift in the benthic community composition toward more resistant coral taxa. The substantial recovery of hard coral cover over time suggests the resilience of the coral ecosystem in this remote atoll, although the recovery process is still ongoing, as shown by the incomplete restoration of original diversity and colony growth forms. A standardized and periodic monitoring plan in Ihavandhippolhu Atoll will be needed to track the ongoing changes in reef community composition under conditions of minimal human influence.