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‘IVF corals’ survived marine heatwave

Scientists are pleasantly surprised after lab-grown corals were found to have survived a marine heatwave in the Caribbean.

As temperatures rose last summer, conservationists noticed that the corals – bred using in vitro fertilisation (IVF) and planted on reefs by hand – appeared to be surviving the heat, while other corals bleached. This week, research confirmed their findings.

In a study involving 771 IVF corals, 90% were found to be in good health following the heatwave, compared to 25% of non-IVF corals. It’s the first scientific evidence showing IVF corals to be more resistant to heat than regular corals. 

“These results provide a lot of encouragement and confirm that restoration using [IVF corals] can play an important role in orchestrating coral persistence into our warmer future,” said Dr Margaret Miller, research director at SECORE, which planted the corals. “Nonetheless, truly securing the future of coral reefs is absolutely dependent on humankind’s success in controlling global warming.”  

SECORE collects coral spawn from wild corals, fertilises the eggs and sperm in the lab, then grows the young corals in enclosures before outplanting them onto reefs. It’s done this at 15 sites in the Caribbean, with more planned.

Image: Valerie Chamberland

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