A team of scientists is diligently working to rescue coral reefs from the brink of extinction, despite the threats of warming oceans, diseases, and human impact, CBC News.
Endangered coral reefs
Scientists at Mote Marine Laboratory in Florida are fighting to save the endangered coral reefs. With coral cover declining rapidly and reefs facing multiple threats such as disease, human activity, and rising ocean temperatures, the situation is dire. The team is taking action by breeding new coral on land and grafting small fragments onto struggling reefs, aiming to rejuvenate them. Coral reefs are crucial for the planet’s biodiversity and survival, and allowing their degradation would have far-reaching consequences. The increasing threats, including record-high sea surface temperatures, confirm the urgent need to address climate change.
Half a million coral plugs
Scientists at Looe Key, Florida, are engaged in an ambitious coral restoration project called Mission: Iconic Reefs. With the majority of live coral unable to reproduce naturally due to reef degradation, the scientists are manually planting baby elkhorn coral in clusters, promoting rapid fusion. The goal is to introduce half a million new coral babies over two decades across seven significant reefs. The project aims to revitalize the reefs by creating genetic diversity and identifying coral genotypes that can withstand warmer temperatures and diseases. State and federal funding are supporting this groundbreaking coral restoration effort, making it one of the most ambitious projects of its kind globally. At Mote Marine Laboratory, scientists are raising coral in tanks, replicating spawning conditions to produce a new generation of coral. Once matured, the coral fragments are moved outside to grow in tanks, and when ready, they are transported to the reefs to establish new colonies.
Caribbean king crab soldiers
Increasing carbon dioxide absorption by the oceans leads to rising acidity, threatening marine life. Algae proliferation occurs as a result, of smothering coral reefs. Scientists at Mote lab are addressing this issue by breeding Caribbean king crabs, which consume excessive algae and help maintain coral health. In Sarasota, scientists aim to produce 250,000 juvenile crabs annually for deployment as defenders of coral reefs. The threats continue, with the El Niño weather pattern and potential coral bleaching due to rising sea temperatures. The urgency to act is emphasized, as even achieving global net-zero carbon emissions wouldn’t immediately alleviate the ocean’s absorption of existing emissions. Despite the challenges, the out-planting team at Looe Key remains optimistic, witnessing coral growth and expressing satisfaction with their work’s positive direction.
Did you subscribe to our newsletter?
It’s free! Click here to subscribe!
Source: CBC News
