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Coral reef ecosystems exhibit complex dynamics driven by multiple, interacting processes that operate across a range of scales, from local to global and from days to millions of years. Many reefs have been degraded by human action in recent decades, reducing their capacity to absorb recurrent natural and unnatural disturbances. Rebuilding and sustaining the resilience of coral reefs will depend on interventions that are based on an improved understanding of multiscale processes. The current emphasis on conservation of biodiversity hot spots and on establishing networks of no-take areas does not adequately recognize the functional role of key species groups and the critical seascape connections between protected and unprotected reefs. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]