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    Coral reefs in the Eastern Pacific could survive into the 2060s    
      
     Date:   
         February 13, 2023   
     Source:   
         University of Miami Rosenstiel School of Marine, Atmospheric,   
         and Earth Science   
     Summary:   
         Scientists found that some reefs in the tropical Pacific Ocean   
         could maintain high coral cover into the second half of this   
         century by shuffling the symbiotic algae they host. The findings   
         offer a ray of hope in an often-dire picture of the future of   
         coral reefs worldwide.   
      
      
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   FULL STORY   
   ==========================================================================   
   Scientists at the University of Miami Rosenstiel School of Marine,   
   Atmospheric, and Earth Science found that some reefs in the tropical   
   Pacific Ocean could maintain high coral cover into the second half of   
   this century by shuffling the symbiotic algae they host. The findings   
   offer a ray of hope in an often-dire picture of the future of coral   
   reefs worldwide.   
      
      
   ==========================================================================   
   While global warming is causing the loss of coral reefs globally,   
   scientists believe that some corals are increasing their tolerance to   
   heat by changing the symbiotic algae communities they host, which through   
   photosynthesis provide them with the energy they need to live.   
      
   "Our results suggest that some reefs in the eastern tropical Pacific,   
   which includes the Pacific coasts of Panama, Costa Rica, Mexico, and   
   Colombia, might be able to maintain high coral cover through the 2060s,"   
   said coral biologist Ana Palacio-Castro, lead author of the study, alumna   
   of the Rosenstiel School, and a postdoctoral associate at the school's   
   Cooperative Institute for Marine and Atmospheric Studies. "However,   
   while this may be seen as good news for these reefs, their survival   
   may not continue past that date unless we reduce global greenhouse gas   
   emissions and curtail global warming on a larger scale."  Shallow coral   
   reefs in the eastern tropical Pacific Ocean are predominantly built by   
   branching corals in the genus Pocillopora, which are extremely important   
   for the reefs in the region. The microscopic algae they host in their   
   tissue harvest light to help the coral produce energy to grow. The loss of   
   these symbiotic algae causes the coral to turn white, or bleach, and the   
   coral struggles to meet their energy needs, which can often prove fatal.   
      
   To better understand how corals improved their tolerance to heat stress,   
   the researchers examined over 40 years' worth of coral reef-monitoring   
   data from Panama, one of the longest datasets of its kind in the   
   world. They analyzed temperature, coral cover, bleaching and mortality   
   data spanning three ocean heatwaves -- in 1982-1983, 1997-1998, and   
   2015-2016 -- along with data on algal symbiont community data during   
   the last two.   
      
   The analysis showed that the 1982-83 heatwave significantly reduced   
   coral cover on the reef, but the effects of the 1997-98 and 2015-16 El   
   Nin~o were milder, especially for corals in the genus Pocillopora --   
   sometimes known as cauliflower coral -- the predominant reef-building   
   coral in the eastern tropical Pacific. They also confirmed that during   
   strong ocean heatwaves, the heat-tolerant alga Durusdinium glynnii   
   becomes increasingly common in this particular lineage of corals,   
   allowing them to better withstand periods of elevated temperatures. When   
   combined with climate projections of future heat stress, the reefs that   
   were predominantly composed of Pocillopora corals and that hosted this   
   heat-tolerant alga were found to be better equipped to survive and   
   maintain high levels of coral cover well into the second half of the   
   current century, indicating that some reef systems may be more resilient   
   to warming than previously thought.   
      
   "This study shows that there are some unusual reefs that may be able   
   to survive for several decades as a result of their ability to shuffle   
   symbionts," said Andrew Baker, professor of marine biology and ecology   
   at the Rosenstiel School, and senior author of the study. "While we   
   don't think that most reefs will be able to survive in this way, it does   
   suggest that vestiges of our current reefs may persist for longer than we   
   previously thought, although potentially with many fewer species. Coral   
   reefs are incredibly valuable natural assets, providing coastal protection   
   and fisheries benefits, and supporting many local communities. We can   
   still make a difference by protecting them."  The study was supported by   
   National Science Foundation (NSF) grants (OCE 1447306 and OCE-1358699)   
   and COLCIENCIAS Scholarship for doctoral studies abroad (#529).   
      
       * RELATED_TOPICS   
             o Plants_&_Animals   
                   # Marine_Biology # Extinction # Sea_Life #   
                   Ecology_Research   
             o Earth_&_Climate   
                   # Coral_Reefs # Ecology # Global_Warming #   
                   Environmental_Issues   
       * RELATED_TERMS   
             o Coral_bleaching o Coral_reef o Coral o Giant_clam o   
             Dinoflagellate o Artificial_reef o Southeast_Asia_coral_reefs   
             o Eutrophication   
      
   ==========================================================================   
   Story Source: Materials provided by   
   University_of_Miami_Rosenstiel_School_of_Marine,   
   Atmospheric,_and_Earth_Science. Original written by Diana Udel. Note:   
   Content may be edited for style and length.   
      
      
   ==========================================================================   
   Journal Reference:   
      1. Ana M. Palacio-Castro, Tyler B. Smith, Viktor Brandtneris, Grace A.   
      
         Snyder, Ruben van Hooidonk, Juan L. Mate', Derek Manzello, Peter W.   
      
         Glynn, Peggy Fong, Andrew C. Baker. Increased dominance of   
         heat-tolerant symbionts creates resilient coral reefs in near-term   
         ocean warming.   
      
         Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 2023; 120 (8)   
         DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2202388120   
   ==========================================================================   
      
   Link to news story:   
   https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2023/02/230213201037.htm   
      
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