Scientists test crossbred corals near Miami in effort to protect reefs from rising ocean heat
Scientists have begun planting crossbred coral species off the coast of Miami in a novel effort to help Florida's reefs survive warming oceans and future bleaching events.
Cody Jackson and Freida Frisaro report for The Associated Press.
In short:
- Researchers from the University of Miami, Florida Aquarium, and Tela Marine are transplanting coral bred from Florida and Honduras to test if hybrid offspring can better withstand heat stress.
- The project uses Elkhorn corals from a warm reef in Tela, Honduras, where corals thrive in temperatures two degrees Celsius warmer than Florida waters, mimicking future climate scenarios.
- This marks the first time international coral crossbreeding has been permitted for planting on wild reefs, with scientists monitoring the hybrids’ performance through the summer.
Key quote:
“We’ve lost maybe more than 95% of the Elkhorn corals that were on Florida’s reefs at that point.”
— Andrew Baker, professor of marine biology and ecology at the University of Miami
Why this matters:
Coral reefs are essential to ocean biodiversity and serve as natural storm barriers for coastal communities. Florida’s reefs, especially iconic Elkhorn corals, have been devastated by climate-driven bleaching — an event where corals expel the algae that sustain them due to rising ocean temperatures. Once bleached, they often die, leading to collapse of the reef structure and the ecosystems that depend on it. Warmer, more polluted waters predicted for Florida’s future resemble current conditions in parts of the Caribbean where certain coral species continue to thrive. Studying crossbred corals offers a window into whether strategic gene mixing could slow the decline.
Learn more: Scientists find IVF coral better survives marine heatwaves than older coral colonies
