. 24/7 Space News .
WATER WORLD
Red Sea corals to persist, even as other corals succumb to global warming
by Brooks Hays
Washington DC (UPI) May 4, 2021

New lab experiments have shed light on the ability of corals in the Red Sea's Gulf of Aqaba to survive rising ocean temperatures.

When marine heatwaves strike, the algae that provide corals with nutrients and their vibrant colors abandon their homes.

The phenomenon, known as coral bleaching, has become more widespread throughout the reefs of Australia, the Maldives and the Caribbean.

However, corals living in the northern Red Sea -- where temperatures are already quite warm -- have proven mostly immune to coral bleaching.

To better understand their resiliency, researchers collected coral samples from the Gulf of Aqaba and exposed them to a range of extreme conditions.

During each of the stress tests, scientists measured the physiological and genetic responses of the corals.

Researchers published the results of the experiments this week in the journal PNAS.

"We already knew that corals in the Gulf of Aqaba, at the northern tip of the Red Sea, were particularly resistant to higher temperatures," lead study author Romain Savary said in a press release.

"But we wanted to study the full molecular mechanism behind this resistance," said Savary, a postdoctoral researcher at EPFL's Laboratory for Biological Geochemistry in Switzerland.

Currently, the temperatures Aqaba corals experience during any given top out at 27 degrees Celsius, or roughly 80 degrees Fahrenheit.

In the lab, scientists exposed the coral samples to water temperatures of 29.5, 32 and 34.5 degrees Celsius. Researchers turned up the water temperature for three hours at a time and, later, for an entire week.

During the experiments, scientists measured the gene expression of both the corals and their symbiotic algal companions.

The results of their experiments suggest the corals of the northern Red Sea are incredibly resilient and unlikely to lose their color even under the most dramatic ocean warming scenarios.

"The main thing we found is that these corals currently live in temperatures well below the maximum they can withstand with their molecular machinery, which means they're naturally shielded against the temperature increases that will probably occur over the next 100 or even 200 years," Savary said.

"Our measurements showed that at temperatures of up to 32 degrees Celsius, the corals and their symbiotic organisms were able to molecularly recover and acclimate to both short-term and long-term heat stress without any major consequences," Savary said.

The test results showed corals and their algal inhabitants enact a complex combination of genetic changes in response to rises in water temperature.

"Romain's research gives us insight into the specific genetic factors that allow corals to survive," said study co-author Anders Meibom, head of the LGB.

"His study also indicates that an entire symphony of genetic expression is at work to give corals this extraordinary power," Meibom said.

While the new research could help scientists identify "super corals" that are especially resistant to marine heatwaves and coral bleaching, potentially aiding conservation efforts, researchers said the best way to protect coral reefs is to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and slow climate change.

If the planet continues to warm, saving the Great Barrier Reef using coral from the northern Red Sea won't be an option.

"Corals are highly dependent on their surroundings," said Meibom. "They can adapt to new environments only after a long, natural colonization process. What's more, the Great Barrier Reef is the size of Italy -- it would be impossible to repopulate it artificially."


Related Links
Water News - Science, Technology and Politics


Thanks for being there;
We need your help. The SpaceDaily news network continues to grow but revenues have never been harder to maintain.

With the rise of Ad Blockers, and Facebook - our traditional revenue sources via quality network advertising continues to decline. And unlike so many other news sites, we don't have a paywall - with those annoying usernames and passwords.

Our news coverage takes time and effort to publish 365 days a year.

If you find our news sites informative and useful then please consider becoming a regular supporter or for now make a one off contribution.
SpaceDaily Monthly Supporter
$5+ Billed Monthly


paypal only
SpaceDaily Contributor
$5 Billed Once


credit card or paypal


WATER WORLD
Tiny ocean plants called diatoms use a single carbon capture pathway
Washington DC (UPI) May 3, 2021
The world's smallest plants, single-cell organisms called diatoms, provide exceptional carbon capture services, according to researchers. According to a new study, published Monday in the journal Frontiers in Plant Sciences, diatoms mostly use a single cellular pathway to capture and concentrate CO2. Every year, diatoms floating near the surface of the ocean capture 10 to 20 billion metric tons of CO2 via photosynthesis. Until now, scientists weren't sure how the unicellular plants conce ... read more

Comment using your Disqus, Facebook, Google or Twitter login.



Share this article via these popular social media networks
del.icio.usdel.icio.us DiggDigg RedditReddit GoogleGoogle

WATER WORLD
Space tourism - 20 years in the making - is finally ready for launch

China wants new space station to be more international

China steps on protecting technology 'fall short': USTR

Top Things to Know about Space Station Crew Handovers

WATER WORLD
NASA continues RS-25 engine testing for future Artemis missions

Astronauts leave ISS, begin return journey to Earth on SpaceX craft

Jacobs and NASA begin processing of SLS Core Stage at Cape

China plans four Tiangong Space Station launches in 2021

WATER WORLD
NASA extends Mars helicopter mission to assist rover

How Zhurong will attempt to touch down on the red planet

Mars Ingenuity helicopter given new scouting mission

Zhurong on course for historic journey

WATER WORLD
China launches space station core module Tianhe

Core capsule launched into orbit

Mars mission team prepares for its toughest challenge

China launches first module for new space station

WATER WORLD
Lithuania to become ESA Associate Member state

Private firms expected to help build space station

SpaceX successfully launches into space carrying 60 more Starlink satellites

Spacepath Communications to power new satellite teleport services

WATER WORLD
Supply of key minerals for clean energy crucial: IEA

Fortnite maker girds for epic court clash with Apple

China's Long March-5B rocket booster set for uncontrolled reentry

VR ER: tech helps UK medical students learn safely

WATER WORLD
Astronomers detect first ever hydroxyl molecule signature in an exoplanet atmosphere

NASA's Webb to study young exoplanets on the edge

When the atmosphere isn't enough

As different as day and night

WATER WORLD
New Horizons reaches a rare space milestone

New research reveals secret to Jupiter's curious aurora activity

NASA's Europa Clipper builds hardware, moves toward assembly

First X-rays from Uranus Discovered









The content herein, unless otherwise known to be public domain, are Copyright 1995-2024 - Space Media Network. All websites are published in Australia and are solely subject to Australian law and governed by Fair Use principals for news reporting and research purposes. AFP, UPI and IANS news wire stories are copyright Agence France-Presse, United Press International and Indo-Asia News Service. ESA news reports are copyright European Space Agency. All NASA sourced material is public domain. Additional copyrights may apply in whole or part to other bona fide parties. All articles labeled "by Staff Writers" include reports supplied to Space Media Network by industry news wires, PR agencies, corporate press officers and the like. Such articles are individually curated and edited by Space Media Network staff on the basis of the report's information value to our industry and professional readership. Advertising does not imply endorsement, agreement or approval of any opinions, statements or information provided by Space Media Network on any Web page published or hosted by Space Media Network. General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) Statement Our advertisers use various cookies and the like to deliver the best ad banner available at one time. All network advertising suppliers have GDPR policies (Legitimate Interest) that conform with EU regulations for data collection. By using our websites you consent to cookie based advertising. If you do not agree with this then you must stop using the websites from May 25, 2018. Privacy Statement. Additional information can be found here at About Us.