*4.1. Field Surveys*

Coral mortality surveys were conducted from 2–8 December, 2016, approximately 7 months after the peak thermal stress occurred [7]. Six coral reef sites were monitored in the Alifu Alifu and Baa Atolls (Figure 1) in the Republic of Maldives using modified Reef Check International protocols [72]. In brief, within each reef, coral cover was surveyed on both the reef crest and reef slope of lagoon reefs. Three 20 m transect lines were surveyed at each depth, with 5 m between each transect (for a total of *n* = 6 transects per reef site, 60 m length per depth). Shallow transects were placed along a 4–5.5 m contour (average depth = 4.9 m ± 0.2), and deep transects were placed at a 9–11 m contour (average depth = 10.7 m ± 0.3). Photos were taken at 1 m interval points along each transect from approximately 1 m above the substrate and 0.5 m in each direction from the interval point. The shallow transect of one reef, Hurasdhoo House Reef, was omitted from analysis due to poor image quality.
