The Sundarban
A unusual see revealed in the journal Coral Reefs reveals that heat-tolerant symbiotic algae may be essential to saving elkhorn coral (Acropora palmata) — a foundational species in Caribbean reef ecosystems — from the devastating impacts of marine heatwaves and coral bleaching.
The research, carried out by scientists at the University of Miami Rosenstiel College of Marine, Atmospheric, and Earth Science, in collaboration with scientists from The Shedd Aquarium, Coral Restoration Foundation, Reef Renewal, and Mote Marine Laboratory, gives timely insights into the thermal tolerance of elkhorn coral, a focal species for coral restoration efforts in Florida and at demonstrate listed beneath the Endangered Species Act.
The see, carried out in June 2022, one year ahead of the unheard of 2023 marine heatwave, tested 172 elkhorn coral colonies sourced from restoration nurseries stretching from Miami to the lower Florida Keys. The usage of custom-constructed rapid heat stress checking out programs onboard the Shedd Aquarium’s research vessel, R/V Coral Reef II, researchers tested coral fragments beneath a range of temperature treatments to assess their heat tolerance.
Their findings confirmed that elkhorn corals hosting the heat-tolerant symbiont Durusdinium may probably live to explain the tale temporary exposure to temperatures almost 2 0C higher than these with the more general Symbiodinium. These resilient colonies have been sexually derived juvenile corals that had acquired Durusdinium in Mote Marine Laboratory’s land-based facility on Summerland Key, providing evidence that manipulating symbiont communities in early lifestyles stages can be a very effective strategy for producing heat-tolerant corals for restoration.
“This study represents the most extensive thermal tolerance dataset gathered on A. palmata, revealing that, in Florida, the type of symbiotic algae a coral host, has a greater ability to increase heat resistance than environmental factors or genetic differences among different coral individuals,” said Richard Karp, the lead author of the see, who carried out the research whereas a doctoral scholar at the Rosenstiel College. “By incorporating novel interventions like heat-tolerant symbionts into restoration efforts, we can boost coral resilience and help restore this iconic species.”
The findings come at a critical time, as a global coral bleaching event — officially declared in 2024 — has already impacted 84 percent of the arena’s reefs. The 2023 marine heatwave worn out many remaining wild elkhorn colonies along Florida’s Coral Reef, underscoring the necessity for climate-resilient coral restoration strategies.
This see emphasizes the importance of scaling up symbiont-based interventions as part of contemporary and future coral conservation and restoration work. By shifting coral-algal partnerships toward more thermally resilient symbionts, restoration practitioners may enhance the survival and prolonged-time duration stability of coral populations in the face of increasing ocean temperatures.
“This is an example of Florida’s reef scientists sharing their scientific and restoration expertise and their coral nurseries, ships, and laboratories to make critical discoveries,” said Andrew Baker, a professor of marine biology and ecology at the Rosenstiel College and Karp’s doctoral advisor. “We need to continue to innovate and think outside the box to keep developing new approaches to help coral reefs in their fight for survival against continued warming and coral bleaching.”
Funding for the see was equipped by National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration-Coral Reef Conservation Program: NA20NMF4820289 and the Protection Advanced Research Projects Agency-Biological Technologies Place of labor (DARPA): HR00112220041.
The authors embody Richard F. Karp; Fabrizio Lepiz-Conejo, University of Miami Rosenstiel College of Marine, Atmospheric, and Earth Science; Shayle B. Matsuda and Bryce Corbett, Shedd Aquarium; Alexandra D. Wen, Joseph D. Unsworth, and Martine D’Alessandro, Rosenstiel College; Ken Nedimyer, Reef Renewal, USA; Amelia Moura, Coral Restoration Foundation; Erinn M. Muller and Zachary Craig, Mote Marine Laboratory; Diego Lirman, Rosenstiel College; Ross Crafty, Shedd Aquarium; and Andrew Baker, Rosenstiel College.
