Ecology
Corals living in a tropical paradise near Ofu Island in the South Pacific are probably the strongest and most resilient corals that live in lagoons where the temperature is this high high, which can safely kill other members of this species of animals.
These coral polyps don't just survive under these conditions, but thrive, according to marine biologist Stephen Palumbi of Stanford University, who has studied corals.
“In fact, these corals are growing faster than other species,” he said.
Studying data from relatively heat-tolerant corals will help scientists find ways to protect these and other species that are at serious risk of extinction due to global warming and warming waters in the oceans.
Coral reefs are an important part of the environment and are home to a huge variety of different species of living things. Coral reef biodiversity is the richest of all marine ecosystems. Many species of fish we eat live in these areas, coral reefs also attract tourist divers, protect the coast from severe ocean storms, and are a source of medical substances.
“With our research, we are trying to find the most heat-resistant corals that can easily cope with rising temperatures, and we are also trying to find out what genes they may have,” – Palumbi said.
In order to test the endurance of corals, scientists will use computer-controlled aquariums, which will increase the temperature by certain degrees. Scientists will place corals from different parts of the world in the so-called “coral stress tank”, increase the water temperature during the day and monitor which ones can survive under these conditions. If corals turn white, they will reject algae living in symbiosis with them, which photosynthesize, which means that corals will experience stress.
Scientists plan to begin research in late May or early April on the American islands of Samoa, and then on other islands in the South Pacific Ocean. “We don't know if these tenacious corals will be able to survive in the future, but if we can't find them, we don't know what we can do to save them,” Palumbi concluded.