How do
corals survive in the very hot Gulf waters? Is it due to a 4,000 year-long
evolutionary process? Samples of Gulf coral have been analysed in a British lab
to work out the molecular basis of the corals’ acclimatization to hot water.
One reason for the corals’ success is that they live in symbiosis with a type
of algae which produces sugar which gives the coral energy. In return the coral
provides shelter and nutrients for the algae. It seems a perfect arrangement but both coral and algae are entirely
co-dependent. At very high temperatures the algae produce chemicals which
damage the coral, causing bleaching. As a result many corals have been lost.
Still,
overall, corals have recovered from damage and are surviving. How? Corals
reproduce by fragmentation, which is tricky, or by larval reproduction, which
seems to be key. Coral larvae are produced in billions during spawning and
float around until they can attach themselves to rocks and so begin to form new
reefs. Scientists suspect there may be seeding reefs upstream in the Gulf,
which would strengthen calls for cross-border environmental protection
agreements to protect coral reefs.
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