coral breeding

Temperature increases from climate change can cause substantial damage to coral reefs. Coral are animals that form hard structures of calcium chloride, similar to the shell of a crab. These structures house coral colonies, as well as the algae that provides food for the coral. If local water temperature rises, the coral will expel the algae, losing a major source of energy. This event is called “bleaching”, and it has been recorded in the U.S., Southeast Asia, and the Great Barrier Reef (GBR) near Australia. To combat this ecosystem-destroying event, scientists in Australia, like Dr. Saskia Jurriaans, have developed a method to restore reefs, known as coral IVF. This technique consists of growing baby corals in specialty pools, and returning them to the reef of interest.