Coral reef conservation efforts expand in Florida and Australia

Researchers are implementing new strategies to combat the degradation of coral reefs caused by rising ocean temperatures. In Florida, a University of Miami team and volunteers through the ‘Rescue a Reef’ program have planted 615 corals near Key Biscayne. The initiative aims to identify species, such as mountain star coral, that demonstrate higher resilience to thermal stress and bleaching following the functional extinction of certain species due to marine heatwaves.

Simultaneously, investigators at the University of Sydney have developed a new methodology to assess reef health, specifically targeting the Great Barrier Reef. By utilizing over 30 years of historical data, the model allows scientists to conduct a ‘check-up’ on reefs to monitor degradation and recovery capacity. This method compares current coral cover and algae accumulation against a reef’s own historical baseline, providing a more consistent way to understand individual reef trajectories in the face of climate change.