Summary of wide-scale (A–B) and locally measured (C–F) environmental variables recorded from the studied reefs throughout the sampling period, demonstrating changes in ambient conditions during the El Niño period (1998).

<p>(A) Annual sea surface temperature and sunlight irradiance; (B) Annual rainfall and mean daily cloud cover; (C) Mean seawater temperature (ERT and CRW); (D) Mean salinity (ERT and CRW); (E) Mean seawater temperature and salinity (SBR); (F) Mean water clarity (CRW and SBR). Error bars indicate SE around the mean between replicate reef systems; Vertical bars represent the timing of the 1997–8 El Niño event.