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Stanford coral bleaching reversal research

Overview

Researchers at Stanford University have identified a potential method to reverse coral bleaching through direct physical contact between healthy and bleached coral fragments. The study, published in Science Advances, was inspired by observations of coral fragments from the same colony where contact caused color to return to a bleached specimen.

In laboratory experiments using the species Pocillopora damicornis, scientists found that bleached fragments placed in direct contact with healthy genetic clones achieved full recovery within seven weeks. Microscopic analysis indicates that the corals fuse their tissues to create channels, acting as a “nutrient highway” that allows for the transfer of essential nutrients and symbiotic algae from the healthy coral to the bleached one. This biological connection can reportedly kickstart the recovery process in as little as three days.

Conversely, bleached fragments kept even a few millimeters away from healthy clones failed to recover and died. This discovery provides a new avenue for reef restoration efforts as marine heat waves continue to impact approximately 84.4% of the world’s coral reefs.

Entities

Stanford University · Hopkins Marine Station · Danny Collins · Steve Palumbi · Pocillopora damicornis

Timeline

  1. [TECHNOLOGY] 2 sources
    Stanford researchers find method to rapidly reverse coral bleaching

    Stanford University researchers found that bleached corals can fully recover within seven weeks by fusing tissues with healthy genetic clones to share vital nutrients and symbiotic algae.

  2. [TECHNOLOGY] 12 sources
    Stanford scientists discover method to reverse coral bleaching via physical contact

    Stanford scientists discovered that placing bleached coral in direct contact with healthy clones can reverse bleaching within seven weeks by allowing the transfer of algae and nutrients through fused tissue.

Sources

azocleantech.com · de.euronews.com · ecomagazine.com · es.euronews.com · euronews.com · focus.de · fr.euronews.com · goodnewsnetwork.org · lifesciencesworld.com · pt.euronews.com · sciencealert.com · time.news · world-today-journal.com · xeu.mx