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Lab Mishap Reveals Simple Trick to Save Coral Reefs
23 Oct
Summary
- Healthy coral passing algae to bleached coral through physical contact.
- One week of contact was enough for bleached coral to recover in seven weeks.
- The accidental discovery is informally called the 'helping hands' technique.
A serendipitous laboratory incident has uncovered a novel technique for revitalizing coral reefs. Researchers observed that when bleached, dying coral came into direct physical contact with healthy coral, the latter could transfer its vital symbiotic algae. This accidental discovery, informally dubbed the 'helping hands' method, demonstrated that bleached coral could make a remarkable recovery.
The physical fusion between the two corals created a nutrient bridge, enabling the crucial transfer of algae. Remarkably, just one week of this close contact was sufficient for the bleached coral to regain full health within approximately seven weeks. This offers a much faster recovery rate than natural processes, which can take months.
While this groundbreaking method holds promise for emergency interventions to save critically endangered reefs, scientists emphasize that its replication in the wild is still uncertain. Even if feasible, the process is expected to be slow and labor-intensive. Ultimately, the long-term survival of coral reefs hinges on addressing the root cause: global ocean warming.
