Coral Reefs: Climate Change and Research Insights

May 1, 2025

Coral Reefs and Climate Change

Importance of Coral Reefs

  • Spectacular ecosystems found in nature
  • Hosts to numerous biological communities
  • Important havens of biodiversity
  • Valuable food source for over 500 million people

Impact of Climate Change on Coral Reefs

  • Warming oceans lead to heat stress in coral communities
  • Corals may expel symbiotic algae in a process called bleaching
  • Repeated or prolonged bleaching can lead to death of coral colonies

Research by Marine Biologist Steve Palumi

  • Studies coral response to heat stress due to warming oceans
  • Conducts fieldwork on Ofu Island, Samoa
  • Ofu Island lagoons heat up to 32-34°C, above typical bleaching temperatures

Experiment on Heat Stress Resistance

  • Controlled experiments to apply heat stress in lab settings
  • Standardized stress tanks used for controlled exposure
  • Corals from warmer and cooler pools tested for bleaching resistance

Findings from the Experiments

  • Corals from warmer pools show more resistance to bleaching
  • Transplanted corals from cooler to warmer pools develop increased resistance
  • Heat tolerance linked to specific heat tolerance genes

Acclamation and Adaptation

  • Corals can change heat tolerance over time
  • Combination of genetic adaptation and environmental acclamation enhances resistance

Reef Restoration Project

  • Experiment led by Palumi and graduate student Megan Morawa
  • Aims to restore reefs damaged by hurricanes and other stresses
  • Tests if corals from warmer areas transplant better than those from cooler areas
  • Initial project conducted at a reef called Cely

Real-world Application and Research Bridging

  • Aims to bridge research with real-world application
  • Importance of management agencies and local support

Importance of Global Awareness

  • Global recognition of coral reefs' productivity and ecological importance
  • Attention akin to that of tropical rainforests
  • Global willpower and attention could be key to saving ecosystems

These notes provide a comprehensive overview of the lecture, highlighting the key aspects of coral reefs in the context of climate change, and focusing on ongoing research and restoration efforts.