Mass coral bleaching events are increasing in frequency and severity under climate change, yet their ecological consequences remain context dependent. This study quantified changes in benthic community structure during the 2023-2025 Fourth Global Coral Bleaching Event (GCBE) in Tela Bay and Roatán, Honduras. Using standardized Atlantic and Gulf Rapid Reef Assessment (AGRRA) survey protocols, we evaluated temporal and spatial shifts in benthic composition, coral diversity, and reef functionality. Both locations experienced marked declines in live coral cover and increased fleshy macroalgae, indicating shifts toward algal-dominated benthic states. These changes were associated with declines in reef functionality, likely due to the mortality of abundant taxa. However, responses differed among sites. Increased multivariate dispersion following the event revealed site-level heterogeneity, particularly in Tela Bay, where some sites retained high coral cover and diversity indices post-disturbance, suggesting localized differences in resistance. Yet reef locations with relatively high coral cover remain vulnerable to bleaching-driven community reorganization and functional decline. Spatial variability among sites suggests that local environmental conditions, pre-bleaching assemblages, and chronic stressors such as water quality may mediate severity. These findings highlight the need to prioritize site-specific monitoring and management that identify and protect reefs with greater persistence potential under accelerating climate stress.
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