Coral reefs represent one of the most threatened marine ecosystems, due to either natural or anthropogenic disturbances, on both global and local scale. Global warming is resulting in widespread bleaching and mass mortality events; similarly, ocean acidification is hampering coral growth and survival On local scale, especially fishing and tourism affect coral reefs either with mechanical damage or with pollution and sedimentation. The recent increase in scale and frequency of disturbances has resulted in extensive changes in community structure and composition of coral reefs, which dramatically decrease their recovery potential. Some studies have also suggested that anthropogenic impacts can prevent