A workshop on coral reef ecosystems and global change was held June 18-21, 1991 in Miami. The meeting was held in response to rising concerns about widely reported episodes of coral reef 'bleaching' and deteriorating ecosystem health and reef environmental quality. The workshop had three specific aims: To examine recent evidence about the phenomenon of coral bleaching and to determine what additional approaches and information are needed; To understand and predict the responses of coral reefs to global climate change; and to suggest priorities for future research to provide agencies with a starting point for developing further initiatives.