Researchers develop novel system to study coral skeletons, enabling climate-resilient coral polyp development. A gene from the stony coral Stylophora pistillata is used to induce calcium concentration and skeleton formation in a sea anemone.
A new study has identified the role of microbes in regulating coral thermal bleaching susceptibility, revealing that heat-tolerant Symbiodiniaceae dominate microbial communities on Huangyan Island. Increased fungal diversity and pathogen abundance are associated with higher coral thermal bleaching susceptibility.
A long-term study in Eilat found that artificial reefs reduce diving pressure on natural reefs, allowing for the preservation of both dive tourism and coral reefs. The reef has attracted many species of fish and invertebrates, making it a successful alternative to natural reefs.
Research reveals that bleaching reefs release organic compounds that promote bacterial growth, leading to an increase in opportunistic bacteria and potential pathogens. This shift in microbial communities may harm corals through suffocation or disease.
Researchers have discovered an estimated 348,000 square kilometers of shallow coral reefs worldwide, revising previous estimates. The high-resolution satellite maps also identify areas with hard and soft bottoms, providing valuable data for scientists and policymakers to better understand and manage reef systems.
A new study by the University of Miami Rosenstiel School and NOAA finds that South Florida's inshore reefs are less vulnerable to ocean acidification than previously thought. The research highlights the importance of preserving seagrass meadows to mitigate climate-related threats to coral reefs.
Researchers studied two coral species in Hawaii to understand their adaptability to climate change, finding that certain species can endure and recover from heat stress, while others are more vulnerable. The study highlights the importance of acclimatization and recovery patterns in coral resilience.
A new study demonstrates that identifying and protecting marine ecosystems, known as coral nurseries, is crucial to future coral conservation and restoration efforts. These areas, where coral larvae can survive and thrive, are connected to established coral reefs via nearshore currents and reef structure.
Research by Oregon State University scientists found that some coral species can adapt to marine heat waves by remembering past events. The study suggests that the microbial communities within corals play a key role in this process.
A recent study by University of Queensland scientist Professor Ove Hoegh-Guldberg warns that record-breaking marine heatwaves will cause catastrophic mass coral bleaching worldwide. The research suggests that current marine heatwaves will likely lead to a global mass coral bleaching event over the next 12-24 months.
A new study found that the presence of seabirds on islands adjacent to tropical coral reefs can boost coral growth rates by more than double. Coral reefs near seabird colonies can bounce back much quicker from bleaching events, with recoveries happening around 10 months faster.
A study led by Arizona State University found that herbivore fishing to less than 80% of their unfished density compromises reef resilience due to algae overgrowth. The research, published before regulatory decisions in Hawai'i, highlights the critical role of herbivores in maintaining coral reef health.
A new study sheds light on the feeding preferences of herbivorous fishes and sea urchins, revealing their combined impact on macroalgal communities. Key findings suggest that these herbivores play a vital role in reducing macroalgal cover and promoting coral reef recovery.
A new type of algal threat is displacing corals globally due to blocking sunlight and producing harmful chemicals. Peyssonnelioid alga crusts are expanding quickly across reefs, killing off corals and transforming entire ecosystems.
The California Academy of Sciences and Roatán Marine Park have been awarded a $1.5 million grant to construct the first coral rearing facility in Honduras, aiming to reverse the rapid decline of coral reefs by 2030. Researchers will test three promising therapies to enhance coral resilience.
New research reveals that adult coral can handle more heat and keep growing thanks to heat-evolved symbionts. The study found that these symbionts enhanced coral recovery from bleaching and improved heat tolerance without compromising growth.
Juvenile crown-of-thorns sea stars (COTS) exhibit high tolerance to heatwave conditions that cause coral bleaching and mortality. This finding suggests they may persist as major coral predators in reefs vulnerable to climate change, threatening coral health.
Juvenile crown-of-thorns starfish can withstand heatwaves that kill coral, developing into carnivorous predators. The species' resilience to warming waters exacerbates climate change's impact on coral reefs.
Researchers discover that coral larvae from less heat-tolerant populations can survive better and show fewer signs of stress than those from more heat-tolerant parents. This challenges the conventional wisdom on coral breeding as a solution to climate change-induced bleaching.
Research suggests that coral reefs in Belize are experiencing a decline in growth rates, with accretion rates decreasing over the past 9,000 years. This decline has significant implications for tropical island nations and the impact of climate change.
A new approach allows researchers to create maps of coral biochemistry, detailing the distribution of compounds integral to reef health. This innovation provides unprecedented insight into coral resilience and potential stressors like warmer ocean temperatures and acidification.
Researchers found that intermittent shading can moderate coral bleaching on shallow reefs by reducing light stress. Shading corals for four hours a day reduced bleaching in some species, while longer periods of shading showed more significant results.
Researchers applied innovative techniques to detect coral reef health, focusing on microbes and metabolites in Florida's Coral Reef. The methods successfully distinguished between reefs based on geography, benthos, disease, and environmental features, providing novel insights into ecosystem characteristics.
Scientists have discovered that corals digest their symbiont algae to access essential nutrients, allowing them to grow rapidly even in nutrient-poor waters. This breakthrough resolves the long-standing mystery of coral reef formation and sheds light on the critical role of symbiotic relationships in coral survival.
Researchers at Texas A&M University have developed an isochoric vitrification technique that preserves and revives live coral fragments without forming ice. This breakthrough enables the collection of coral samples throughout the year, supporting conservation efforts to protect reefs and their diverse ecosystems.
A new study reveals that Pacific coral reefs have increased their thermal tolerance to higher ocean temperatures, reducing the risk of bleaching. This natural adaptation could help reefs withstand climate change if global carbon emissions are cut down.
Coral reefs benefit from reduced land-sea impacts under ocean warming, with pollutants and over-fishing putting immense stress on ecosystems. Human-caused threats were most clearly demonstrated in 2015's record-breaking marine heatwave, which showed coral cover remained unchanged despite extreme heat stress.
Researchers at Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia and University of Milan-Bicocca have demonstrated the efficacy of curcumin in reducing coral bleaching caused by climate change. The study shows significant efficacy in preventing coral bleaching when tested under controlled conditions.
New research shows certain coral species can survive climate change without suffering reduced growth or other tradeoffs when partnering with thermally tolerant algae. This finding suggests these partnerships may dominate reef ecosystems in a climate-changed future.
A new study found that the unique oceanographic conditions in Florida's Dry Tortugas National Park provide the ideal environment for elkhorn coral to flourish, with enhanced growth and survivorship. The research highlights the importance of food availability, particularly zooplankton, for coral survival and restoration efforts.
Researchers found that plastic debris on coral reefs increases with depth, largely stemming from fishing activities, and is correlated with proximity to marine protected areas. The study, which surveyed over 1,200 reefs across 14 countries, highlights the need for increased protections to address this growing threat.
A new hedging strategy for coral restoration balances species diversity and ecosystem benefits by selecting key species that maintain critical functions. The approach considers a range of local species and ecological characteristics to ensure the most effective restoration outcomes.
A massive global study found five common shark species declined 60-73%, as overfishing removed sharks and prey, shifting reef communities towards ray dominance.
Researchers have identified a phenomenon that could help coral reef managers plan and act for the future. Ocean processes during El Niño strengthened the North Equatorial Counter Current, driving cooler plankton-rich waters to Palmyra's coral reefs and enabling them to better manage heat stress.
ASU's new collaboration, ʻĀkoʻakoʻa, aims to restore coral reef vitality and coastal sustainability through a partnership between scientists and local communities in Hawaiʻi. The initiative focuses on West Hawaiʻi island, where 120 miles of reef harbor diverse human and coral conditions.
A new study finds coral disease is spreading globally, tripling over the past 25 years to 9.92%, and predicts 76.8% of reefs will be diseased by 2100 if temperatures continue to rise. Coral reefs support a quarter of the world's fish and are crucial for coastal communities.
Researchers have discovered a common virus hidden within the genomes of coral symbionts, which can threaten the stability of the symbiotic partnership. Climate change and stress can trigger the release of this non-retroviral RNA virus, leading to disease in corals.
Coral cells use a molecule called LePin to mark friendly algae for ingestion, a mutually beneficial relationship that helps corals survive. This discovery could inform strategies to prevent coral bleaching and promote coral resilience.
A new study found that coastal light pollution causes corals to spawn one to three days closer to the full moon, reducing the likelihood of fertilized eggs surviving and producing new adult corals. This disrupts the natural spawning cycle, which is critical for reef recovery after mass bleaching events.
Researchers developed an AI-powered tool to identify and measure coral reef halos globally, providing a new method for monitoring ecosystem health. The tool enables efficient tracking of reef ecosystems' function at large scales, improving understanding and management of coral reefs.
Researchers found high levels of coral pathogens in fish that graze on algae and detritus, while those that eat coral had beneficial bacteria in their feces. These findings suggest that corallivore feces could act as a 'coral probiotic,' potentially benefiting coral reefs.
Scientists discovered that feces from coral-eating fish contain beneficial microbes that help coral thrive, while feces from algae-eating fish cause damage. The study suggests that corallivores may contribute to natural dispersal of 'coral probiotics', promoting reef health.
Researchers have identified a probiotic that can protect Caribbean corals from stony coral tissue loss disease (SCTLD), a deadly and rapidly spreading affliction. The probiotic treatment has been shown to stop or slow the progression of the disease in infected coral fragments, offering an antibiotic-free alternative.
A toolkit for coral gardening could accelerate reef recovery in Saudi Arabia and globally. The Maritechture TM system includes tiles, stackable crates, and coral pods to create artificial reefs that attract natural coral settlement.
Researchers found that coral skeletons provide protection to algae, allowing them to outcompete slow-growing coral. This protection does not benefit young coral, which struggles to recover from bleaching due to limited predation pressure and rapid algae growth.
A recent study found that ocean warming triggers dinoRNAV infections in coral colonies, intensified in unhealthy colonies. This is the first empirical evidence of reef-wide dynamics of viruses infecting coral symbionts during heat waves.
Researchers have developed a method to measure coral biodiversity by extracting environmental DNA from seawater samples, allowing for accurate detection of coral species without direct observation. The technique has been confirmed to work with over 91% accuracy and may indicate presence of corals difficult to detect by human eyes.
A comprehensive global assessment of oxygen loss on coral reefs reveals widespread hypoxia, with over 84% of reefs experiencing 'weak to moderate' hypoxia. The study predicts that ocean warming and deoxygenation will increase the duration, intensity, and severity of hypoxia by 2100.
Researchers found that mesophotic reefs differ from shallower counterparts, suggesting a strong ecological filter between depths. The study highlights the need to expand marine protections for coral reefs beyond shallow waters, emphasizing the unique biodiversity and vulnerability of deeper ecosystems.
Researchers developed a coral-reef-friendly sunscreen by using polymerization to create large molecules that block UV radiation without penetrating skin or coral. The new filter was found to be more effective at preventing sunburn in mice than existing sunscreens, while also being safe for coral and algae.
A 40-year study reveals the loss of a key grazer species threatens diverse coral species in the Caribbean. The prolonged absence of sea urchins has led to an explosion of algae, causing coral cover to drop to historic lows.
A new study found that some coral reefs in the Eastern Pacific could maintain high coral cover into the 2060s by shuffling symbiotic algae communities. The reefs predominantly built by corals in the genus Pocillopora and hosting heat-tolerant alga Durusdinium glynnii are better equipped to survive and maintain high levels of coral cover.
Researchers found that underwater light intensity plays a critical role in the energy expended by coral's symbiotic algae, highlighting the importance of water clarity for coral conservation. Preserving water optical quality is vital to protecting coral biodiversity and preventing reef degradation.
A new study reveals that high-quality coral reefs in Hawaii are popular tourist sites, but also at risk from tourism-related development and pollution. The research used social media and aerial mapping to analyze the impact of tourist visitation on live coral cover across hundreds of coastal sites.
An international research team investigated a surprising coral bleaching episode in Moorea, finding that anti-cyclonic eddies elevated sea levels and concentrated hot water, leading to an underwater marine heatwave. Long-term data revealed the importance of considering environmental dynamics across ocean depths to predict coral bleaching.
Scientists have identified genetic subgroups of a common coral species in Palau's Rock Islands that exhibit remarkable tolerance to extreme heat. The corals' larvae travel from their birthing grounds to the outer reef, where they survive and maintain their heat tolerance.
Researchers found that genetic diversity is key to successful coral transplantation, and using clones of just 10 staghorn individuals led to better results. The team's findings suggest that diversifying coral outplants is safer than betting on one standout 'super coral' to succeed.
A new study emphasizes the critical importance of conserving deep reefs in the Western Indian Ocean, which are under threat from multiple stressors. The researchers urge policymakers to prioritize conservation efforts and consider the region's growing population and economic pressures.
Researchers have developed a low-cost staining method to track coral larvae as they disperse and settle in coral reefs. The method uses colored dyes to differentiate between groups or species, facilitating conservation planning, behavioral ecology, and reef restoration experiments.
A new study found that 70% of Florida’s reefs are experiencing net loss of reef habitat due to erosion. The research highlights the need for enhanced management practices and coral restoration efforts in Florida.