How can coral reefs be preserved

Those experiments showed that heat-adapted corals can thrive in new environments and could be an important source of reef regeneration.

One place to look would be the Gulf of Aqaba in the northern Red Sea. Due to a quirk of geology, the corals there have evolved adapted to harsh hot conditions, with the result that they are not simply heat-tolerant, they thrive better as the water heats, growing faster. She believes these corals represent a precious and unique population — they could be the last coral reefs standing at the end of the century. And yet they are currently poorly protected , threatened by pollution and rampant coastal development, which compromises their resilience.

Indeed, one study showed that coral that survived bleaching on the Great Barrier Reef in had twice the average heat tolerance the following year. Separate lab research reveals that corals can pass on their adaptive strategies to their offspring. Timing is everything, though. When coral dies or is destroyed, the reef shrinks,a problem exacerbated by current sea level rise, making it harder for new corals to grow because their habitat is depth-specific.

And when you lose a coral reef, you are losing the entire ecosystem, not simply a few species of coral. It means we need to ask hard questions about what we value in our reefs and what we are trying to protect in terms of functionality. Implanting thermal extremophiles, such as corals from Aqaba, could speed up the evolutionary process of heat adaptation, but means dramatically changing the ecosystem — the opposite of traditional conservation — and comes with risks. Artificial — even 3D printed — reefs can provide structure and researchers are even experimenting with artificial reef noise.

Using underwater loudspeakers to play the sounds of a healthy reef in degraded areas has been shown to attract fish populations back to the area , helping to kickstart recovery of the ecosystem. In other words, it will depend on good reef management and whether humanity can get a handle on climate change. Avoid touching reefs or anchoring your boat on the reef. Contact with the reef will damage the delicate coral animals, and anchoring on the reef can kill corals, so look for sandy bottom or use moorings, if available.

Take a reef-friendly approach to sun protection. Some ingredients in sunscreen can be harmful to or even kill corals. Inform yourself of safer choices for coral. Better yet, cut down on sunscreen use by wearing a long-sleeved shirt or rash guard to prevent sunburn. While the coronavirus pandemic spread around the world, a destructive disease was also wreaking havoc underwater on coral reefs: stony coral tissue loss disease.

Skip to primary navigation Skip to main content Skip to footer. We believe in coral reefs. Millions of people and species of wildlife depend on coral reefs. While climate change threatens their future, science shows that corals can adapt and survive if we keep them healthy. Community Engagement. What We Do. Where We Work. Energy efficient light bulbs reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

Climate change is one of the leading threats to coral reef survival. If you dive, don't touch. Coral reefs are alive. Stirred-up sediment can smother corals. Check sunscreen active ingredients. For more information, visit oceanservice. In addition to picking up your own trash, carry away the trash that others have left behind.

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