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Scientists Attempt Reef Restoration During Coral Mating Season
by
findingDulcinea Staff
When coral colonies in the Pacific Ocean release egg and sperm during their annual mating season, scientists will take spawn for an experimental technique called coral seeding.
30-Second Summary
April’s full moon marks the beginning of a short mating season for the coral colonies that line the Republic of Palau. At night, the coral emit eggs and sperm into the water. The fertilized eggs become coral larvae, and a small portion will return to the bottom of the ocean and become part of the reef.
Scientists are taking advantage of this event by taking some of the coral from the reef and collecting the larvae formed by its emissions. They will use the spawns from this mating event to promote growth in suffering reef populations.
Many coral reefs, especially in the Caribbean, are dying off due to global warming and other damage inflicted by humans. The experimental procedure of coral seeding aims to promote growth in ailing reefs by adding reef balls populated with baby coral from healthy colonies.
Scientists are taking advantage of this event by taking some of the coral from the reef and collecting the larvae formed by its emissions. They will use the spawns from this mating event to promote growth in suffering reef populations.
Many coral reefs, especially in the Caribbean, are dying off due to global warming and other damage inflicted by humans. The experimental procedure of coral seeding aims to promote growth in ailing reefs by adding reef balls populated with baby coral from healthy colonies.
Headline Link: ‘Catching corals’ spectacular moment’
Many of the earth’s coral reefs are disappearing due to pollution, global warming and overexploitation by humans. Restoring healthy reef populations requires both eliminating these hindrances and helping the colonies by adding coral. When coral reefs in Palau release sperm and egg cells this April, marine biologists will collect samples. The spawns will be attached to limestone “reef balls” and be monitored by the biologists. Eventually, they’ll be moved to reefs that are in need of growth. Their progress will be tracked for a year to determine if they can actually improve reef health long-term.
Source: BBC
Background Link: Global warming damages coral reefs
"The mass mortality of two of the dominant coral species in the Caribbean due to disease has been unprecedented in the last 3,000 years, which suggests a strong link to man-made activities,” says Dr. John Bythell, a biologist from Newcastle University. Global warming is a major cause of reef death and damage. When water becomes too warm, the result is coral bleaching, which caused the death of 17% of the earth’s coral in a 1998 epidemic. Global warming affects not just the corals themselves, but also the microbes that live in the waters with them. Microbes are bacteria that protect coral, but when temperatures rise, the disease-causing bacteria thrive and the helpful bacteria are eliminated.
Source: Science Daily
Related Links: Hope for coral reefs
New evidence reveals that the world’s oceans may be able to regulate climate and thus protect reefs against potential damage from global warming. It appears that waters that maintain a naturally high temperature are able to resist the rise due to global warming. "Global warming is damaging many corals, but it appears to be bypassing certain reefs that support some of the greatest diversity of life on the planet," says Joan Kleypas of the National Center for Atmospheric Research.
Source: Underwater Times
As natural coral reefs decline around the world, countries are doing what they can to make artificial replacements. In Delaware, artificial reefs are fabricated from old New York subway cars. Now, other states are eager to get their hands on New York subway cars, which are in limited supply.
Source: findingDulcinea
Reference: What is coral bleaching?
Rises in water temperature due to global warming encourage coral bleaching. Coral bleaching occurs when a coral gets rid of its zooxanthellae, a type of algae living in coral that provides both nourishment and color. Without the essential algae, coral starve or become susceptible to disease.
Source: Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority
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