Summary:
- The article discusses the physiological "recovery lag" experienced by coral reefs following marine heatwaves, highlighting that short-term survival does not equate to long-term health.
- It details how heat-stressed corals face compromised reproductive success, increased susceptibility to disease, and reduced growth rates long after water temperatures return to normal.
- The research emphasizes the urgent need for conservation strategies that account for these protracted recovery periods to prevent the functional collapse of reef ecosystems.