Articles tagged with Coral Reefs
A team of 12 organizations, backed by a NOAA grant, worked together to collect eggs and sperm, fertilize embryos, and cryopreserve sperm to preserve genetic diversity. The effort resulted in over 1.5 million coral embryos, with 61,000 elkhorn larvae and 47,000 staghorn larvae produced.
Researchers at the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute found that coral reefs on Panama's Pacific coast support 100 times more sharks than those in the Caribbean, despite heavy fishing pressure. The study suggests that ocean productivity should be considered when setting conservation targets to avoid overestimating shark populations.
A two-year collaboration between Anindilyakwa Land and Sea Rangers and UTS scientists has delivered the first comprehensive scientific baseline for the corals around Groote Archipelago in Australia's Northern Territory. The study found coral cover ranging from 5 to 47 per cent across sites, dominated by hardy massive corals.
Researchers found that populations of small invertebrates thrive near rat-infested islands, where seabirds are scarce. In contrast, fish biomass is higher on reefs without rats, benefiting from nutrient-rich guano deposits.
A comprehensive survey of the Great Barrier Reef's microbiome reveals over 800,000 microbial genomes, identifying 500 new bacterial species and 300,000 distinct viruses. The study provides insights into the impact of human activities on the reef's health.
A recent study using high-resolution modeling suggests that Hawaiian corals may be able to adapt to increasing temperatures, even under a high emissions scenario. However, the rate of adaptation varies across different coastal locations, with those around Hawaiʻi Island projected to experience higher heat stress.
Researchers used sonar and underwater imaging systems to find a healthy mesophotic coral garden, 11.5 kilometers off the coast of Benin. The reef, home to eight types of coral and eight species of fish, challenges previous assumptions about its existence.
The Ryukyu Islands Coral eDNA Atlas provides a comprehensive overview of hard coral distribution across the region based on extensive environmental DNA analysis. The atlas includes data from 231 locations, revealing relative abundance of different coral genera at each survey site.
A recent study found that human activities are fundamentally altering the chemical makeup of local coral reefs, leading to decreased coral health and resilience. The research team discovered that 25 contaminants from agricultural, industrial, and pharmaceutical sources accumulated in the soft tissues of coral around Maui, Hawai‘i.
A new international paper argues that science alone is not enough to protect coral reefs, which are disappearing at an unprecedented rate due to climate change and human activities. The authors propose using artistic expression and creative design to inspire public awareness and meaningful action for coral reef conservation.
A review paper synthesizes nearly 20 years of research on the Great Barrier Reef's responses to sea-level shifts, finding five distinct reef phases that formed, drowned, and reformed over 30,000 years. The study highlights the reefs' dynamic nature and reveals they were shaped by multiple environmental pressures.
A Bar-Ilan University study finds that artificial light spilling into coastal waters disrupts sleep in coral reef fish, causing increased aggression and DNA damage. Chronic exposure may have lasting biological consequences.
A three-year study reveals coral hormone cycles similar to humans', helping detect reproductive stress and informing reef conservation. Hormone levels were found to be influenced by sunlight, not heat, and distributed evenly throughout colonies.
A study found that scuba diving tourism causes frequent and often hidden damage to coral reefs, with most damage being unintentional or unnoticed. The research identifies factors such as underwater camera use, gloves, and peer behavior that contribute to reef damage.
The study reveals coral reefs' significant carbon sequestration potential and how reef-dwelling fish contribute to the carbon cycle. Reef sediments dominate carbon storage, with fish influencing sediment carbon reservoirs through bioerosion and respiration.
Rising ocean temperatures cause corals to struggle with oxygen uptake due to disrupted ciliary motion. At moderate temperatures, corals accelerate ciliary motion to meet increased oxygen demand, but this compensatory mechanism fails at higher temperatures.
A new study by the University of Southampton reveals that an imbalance of nutrients in seawater can cause coral disease, potentially more so than heat stress. The research found that 88% of Black Band Disease incidents occurred in regions with highly imbalanced nutrient ratios.
Researchers found that soil fungi are essential for native forest re-growth and ecosystem health on Palmyra Atoll. The symbiotic relationship between Pisonia trees and fungal partners is critical for the atoll's unique ecosystem.
Researchers at University of Miami developed a novel strategy to enhance survival rates of lab-grown baby corals by modifying the alkalinity of growth tiles. By increasing sodium carbonate levels, they observed a fourfold improvement in early-stage coral survival, paving the way for potential coral restoration efforts.
A new study introduces Map the Giants, a pioneering citizen-science initiative to document giant coral colonies before they disappear due to global pressures. The project aims to unlock genetic secrets and traits of resilient corals, providing a validated sampling frame for future research.
A study calls for increased coral assisted evolution research to help reefs cope with rapidly warming oceans. The international team identified nine research priorities, including expanding large-scale field-based research and long-term funding to understand coral biology.
A team of archaeologists used uranium–thorium dating to establish precise construction timelines for houses built out of coral in French Polynesia. The findings reveal previously hidden patterns of architectural development and cultural life in Pacific societies, challenging earlier theories about coral reuse.
A global analysis of over 2,300 seawater samples reveals human-made chemicals make up a significant portion of organic matter in coastal oceans. Industrial chemicals, including plastics and consumer products, dominate the anthropogenic chemical signal, persisting even 20 kilometers offshore.
Researchers discovered diverse microbes on coral reefs, producing chemicals with promising applications in medicine and biotechnology. The findings highlight a critical dimension of conservation: the loss of coral reefs also loses a vast 'molecular library' linked to microbial life.
The Global Coral Tech Transfer Project brings together SECORE International, Australian Institute of Marine Science, and FUNDEMAR to share coral breeding techniques and technologies for large-scale restoration. The partnership aims to create a comprehensive toolbox for boosting reef resilience worldwide.
Researchers have identified new microbial species in corals that produce unique natural products, offering a vast arsenal of potential benefits to humanity. The study highlights the importance of protecting coral reefs' microbiomes to tap into this untapped resource before it's lost forever.
A new study finds that food chains on modern Caribbean coral reefs are 60-70% shorter than they were 7,000 years ago. Individual fish have lost dietary specialization, leading to a compression of the distance between different trophic levels.
Researchers used a novel nitrogen isotope method to reconstruct ancient reef food webs, revealing that modern reefs have shorter and less diverse food chains. This loss of functional diversity makes modern coral reefs more prone to collapse, highlighting the need for conservation efforts.
Corals rest at night to recover from oxidative stress caused by their photosynthetic microbes. This daily cycle regulates their biological clock and balances the host-microbe relationship.
A global study reveals signs of complete extinction in the Canary Islands, where a previously undetected mass mortality event was identified in mid-2022. The affected species is no longer capable of reproducing, potentially leading to local extinction with severe ecological consequences.
A £3.7 million project aims to provide unprecedented analysis of mesophotic coral reefs' vulnerability to climate change and identify ways to protect them. The study will use state-of-the-art technologies to collect comprehensive data on biodiversity, health, and environmental parameters.
A joint study by Tel Aviv University and the University of Haifa discovered that a soft coral's tentacles drive rhythmic movements through a decentralized neural pacemaker system. The system enables each tentacle to perform independent movement while achieving precise collective synchronization.
Rebuilding coral reef fisheries can help fight global hunger and improve nutrition by increasing sustainable fish yields by nearly 50%. Countries with higher malnutrition indexes can benefit most from recovered reef fish stocks, which could provide enough servings for several million people annually.
Researchers found coral reefs impose daily rhythms on nearby microbes, reshaping their composition and abundance. This daily pattern is stronger than seasonal differences, suggesting time of day is a critical factor in studying reef-associated microbial communities.
A recent study found that extreme ocean temperatures triggered a rare coral disease and mass mortality on the Great Barrier Reef. The study discovered that bleaching was followed by an unprecedented outbreak of black band disease, which killed massive Goniopora corals at One Tree Reef.
A new study by the University of Oxford and WCS reveals that connections between coral reefs can stabilize reef health, reducing the risk of collapse. By simulating future reef conditions under different management scenarios, researchers found that a dual approach improving land and sea conditions provides the best outcomes for reefs.
Researchers found that coral reefs governed the pace of climate recovery by tuning the planet's carbon and climate cycles. The study suggests that reefs played a crucial role in stabilizing climate, but modern reef systems are declining due to warming and ocean acidification.
Researchers found that nutrients in lagoons are highest near the island, lower offshore, and linked to human activities on land. Precipitation acts as a key mediator for connections between land use and lagoon waters.
By 2100, coral reefs will be slow to recover, less complex, and dominated by fleshy algae as a result of high carbon dioxide changes in ocean chemistry. The study uses unique coral reefs in Papua New Guinea to determine the impact of ocean acidification on coral reefs.
Researchers used X-rays to investigate the impact of ocean acidification on corals' early skeleton development. They found that acidification affects the formation and structure of the coral's skeleton, with significant implications for marine ecosystems.
A new study models the impact of climate change on the GBR, forecasting a rapid coral decline before the middle of this century. However, curbing emissions and strategic management can help improve coral resilience, especially in well-mixed waters with good larval replenishment.
Scientists at UC Riverside are using advanced technology to understand how corals regain life-giving algae after suffering from heat stress. By studying the cellular and genetic mechanisms of algae reestablishment, researchers aim to develop practical tools to help reefs survive ocean warming.
Researchers at Queensland University of Technology have discovered a three-step process in coral fragments attaching to reefs, involving an immune response, tissue anchoring, and skeleton building. The study reveals distinct biological differences between coral species influencing attachment efficiency and growth rates.
Researchers at the University of Technology Sydney discovered that tailored lipid supplements can significantly increase coral larvae's strength, speed, and survival rate. This innovation has major implications for reef restoration projects, which aim to improve larval supply but often face low post-settlement survival rates.
A new study by Dr. Hannah Alexis Melquiades Asilo and her team at the University of the Philippines Tacloban College reveals that mangroves store up to four times more carbon per hectare than tropical rainforests, challenging reforestation assumptions and highlighting the importance of afforestation strategies.
A Mediterranean coral species has been found to have a unique "dual feeding" strategy that allows it to survive and even thrive in rising sea temperatures. This flexibility involves the coral being able to feed itself with or without algae, making it more resilient to climate change.
A new method, pioneered by University of Sydney student Carra Williams, uses neutron computed tomography to identify well-preserved pockets of coral skeleton that can reveal precise timelines of sea-level and climate shifts. The technique has the potential to transform how scientists reconstruct ancient climates.
Researchers will analyze genetic diversity and structure of four key sponge species to enhance resilience in restored populations. The project aims to build ecological resilience in vulnerable marine environments through a genetics-based approach.
Most coral reefs in the western Atlantic are projected to stop growing and begin eroding due to global warming, with more than 70% expected to decline by 2040. The study also found that reefs will lag behind sea-level rise, resulting in increased flooding risks along vulnerable coasts.
New research demonstrates that corals naturally thriving in extreme environments can be used to boost the resilience of reef sites. Despite being transplanted to more stable conditions, these corals retained their heat tolerance and activated pathways associated with DNA repair and homeostasis.
A NUS-led study analyzed coral samples from the Maldives, extending the sea-level record by 60 years and revealing an acceleration of rising sea levels since 1959. The findings show that the Indian Ocean has been highly responsive to climatic changes, with significant sea level rise of 30cm since the mid-20th century.
The Great Barrier Reef has experienced a significant decline in coral cover, with hard coral cover sitting near the long-term average in each region. Climate change-induced heat stress and cyclones have been major contributors to this decline, particularly among corals dominated by the Acropora species.
Researchers at Ohio State University developed two technologies to support the survival and growth of baby corals, combining Underwater Zooplankton Enhancement Light Array (UZELA) with 3D printed artificial settlement modules. This combination doubles coral survivorship and quadruples growth, providing a promising solution for coral re...
Researchers have discovered that high-frequency sounds from snapping shrimp can serve as a proxy for coral reef resilience. The study found that protected areas showed more prominent snapping shrimp sounds after bleaching events compared to unprotected sites.
A new study projects significant ocean acidification around Hawaiian Islands within the next three decades, posing challenges to coral reefs and other marine organisms. Researchers found varying levels of acidity across different island regions, with windward coastlines exhibiting higher novelty in future conditions.
A new technique allows scientists to inject molecules into coral tissues, revealing thyroxine's positive effect on calcification. The study raises questions about the evolution of animal physiology and how corals utilize thyroxine in their natural habitat.
Researchers will study how ocean currents and nutrients from land influence the health and productivity of MCEs, which support diverse marine life and important fisheries. The project aims to fill critical knowledge gaps and provide science-based solutions for environmental protection and sustainable growth in the gulf region.
A study suggests that eliminating invasive rats can restore the flow of nutrients across food chain networks in Seychelles, potentially enhancing ecosystem function on coral reefs. Seabird populations play a mediating role in this process by increasing turf algae growth and stimulating top-down controls.
Research reveals extreme coral mortality after bleaching, with mortality exceeding 99% in some areas. The study highlights the urgent need for action on climate change, as repeated disturbances have compounded the ecosystem's vulnerability.
Researchers developed a cutting-edge microscope to study coral photosynthesis and health in their natural habitat. The BUMP imaging system provides unprecedented insights into coral reefs, advancing efforts to understand coral bleaching.