Lab-Grown Corals Show Resilience Amid Caribbean’s Worst Marine Heat Wave

In a groundbreaking breakthrough for marine conservation, lab-grown corals have shown remarkable resistance to bleaching during the Caribbean’s most severe marine heat wave on record.

Scientists, who have been cultivating corals in controlled environments to enhance their ability to withstand rising ocean temperatures, observed that these engineered corals survived while many naturally occurring reefs suffered devastating losses.

The findings offer a glimmer of hope in the fight to protect the world’s coral ecosystems from the increasing threats of climate change.

Coral bleaching occurs when extreme heat stresses the organisms, causing them to expel the algae they rely on for energy, often leading to mass die-offs.

However, the lab-grown corals—carefully selected and bred for resilience—maintained their color and health despite record-high ocean temperatures. Researchers believe this success could pave the way for large-scale coral restoration efforts, helping reefs recover and adapt to a warming planet.

While challenges remain in scaling up these efforts, the study underscores the potential of science-driven solutions to mitigate the effects of climate change on vulnerable marine ecosystems.

https://news.mongabay.com/2024/09/lab-grown-corals-resisted-bleaching-during-caribbeans-worst-marine-heat-wave/

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