Heat Tolerance in Some Corals Hopeful

A new study has demonstrated that some corals are able to acclimatize rapidly to rising sea temperatures, acquiring the same level of heat tolerance in little over two years that could be expected to develop from natural selection over many generations. The results have been published in Science.

Coral reefs are one of the most biodiverse and economically valuable ecosystems on the planet. Despite only making up around 1% of the ocean floor, they are home to approximately 25% of all marine life. Not only do they serve as habitats for a diverse array of organisms, they also protect coastlines from storms and provide a source of income in terms of recreation and tourism.

Unfortunately coral reefs are under threat, for example from pollution and rising sea temperatures, and they have been experiencing decline worldwide. New research, however, has shown that it might not be all doom and gloom for corals, and some can acclimatize to increases in temperatures remarkably quickly.