BIOL 488: Can Coral Farming Combat Coral Bleaching?

Coral reefs can be found in oceans all around the world and are an important part of our marine ecosystems. They provide habitats for fish, clams, lobsters, seahorses, sea turtles, and many marine species. However, there is a big problem facing these reefs today: coral bleaching. This process is a result of changes of the environment (change in water temperature, or pollution). This then causes the coral’s photosynthetic fibers to die, and as a result, the coral turns white and dies along with it. This leads to a domino effect that will not only harms the coral itself, but also all the organisms that call these reefs home, and humans as well. There is a way to help combat this: coral farming. This is a process in which coral is farmed by humans and then re-planted into the ocean to help combat coral bleaching. The specific aim of this proposal is to find a way to regrow coral through coral farming on a big enough scale to combat coral bleaching .