Breakthrough Treatment May Boost Coral Resilience to Heat, Offering Hope for Endangered Reefs

Pioneering Therapy for Coral Resilience: A Leap Forward for Reef Conservation

A groundbreaking study reveals that Galaxea fascicularis, a coral species, exhibits improved heat resistance and quicker recovery post-bleaching when fused with specially conditioned algae cells, known as symbionts. This research, a collaborative initiative led by the Australian Institute of Marine Science (AIMS) and the University of Melbourne, highlights a potential lifeline for coral systems facing the threats of climate change.

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The research, featured in Global Change Biology, outlines a decade-long laboratory endeavor to enhance the heat tolerance of symbionts through sustained exposure to increased temperatures. When these fortified symbionts were merged with chemically bleached coral fragments, scientists witnessed a symbiotic relationship that not only endured for two years but also bolstered the corals' heat resistance without stunting their growth.

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Dr. Chan, one of the researchers, pointed out, "The persistent presence of these symbionts two years following their initial integration with the coral hosts implies a durable partnership and suggests the prospective longevity of the heat tolerance benefits these cells bring." Prof. van Oppen added, "This data completes the narrative for adult corals, confirming the continued advantages of this method beyond the early stages of coral life.

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This strategy, referred to as 'assisted evolution,' aims to speed up natural evolutionary processes through proactive human intervention. Dr. Line Bay, Research Program Director at the Reef Restoration and Adaptation Program (RRAP) at AIMS, states that this method is a significant milestone towards boosting corals' capacity to withstand escalating ocean temperatures.

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"Our best chance to safeguard coral reef ecosystems involves a multi-faceted approach. It's critical to cut down emissions, manage reefs proficiently, and explore innovative interventions such as these heat-adapted symbionts, which could improve the reefs' resiliency against climate-induced stresses," Dr. Bay emphasizes.

Insights on the Research

• Researchers established that this symbiont-based treatment does not diminish coral growth, a departure from previous research which suggested that heat-tolerant symbionts could strengthen coral against heat but at the expense of their growth.
• Future research phases will involve controlled field trials to verify whether this innovative treatment is effective beyond laboratory conditions, across diverse coral species, and on a larger scale.
• The project represents a collaboration among experts from AIMS, the University of Melbourne, Monash Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, and the Melbourne Centre for Nanofabrication.
• This vital research received support from the Australian Research Council, the Paul G. Allen Family Foundation, and RRAP — a joint initiative between the Australian Government’s Reef Trust and the Great Barrier Reef Foundation.