Corals don’t live solitary lives. Their existence depends on one-celled algae called zooxanthellae that take up residence inside those ornate structures. The tiny algae give corals oxygen and other nutrients (as well as their beautiful colors), and in return, the corals give the algae carbon dioxide—a symbiotic arrangement.
With global waters warming and increasing in acidity, it’s well known coral reefs are in trouble. Warmer waters cause corals to expel the life-enabling symbiotic algae that they normally pair with, triggering a suicidal process referred to as coral bleaching. Increasing acidity, on the other hand, prevents corals from absorbing the calcium carbonate they need to maintain their skeletons.
Given all these dire findings, it’s no surprise that coral reef research is a hot topic these days (so to speak). Most studies reveal fascinating portents of doom, such as the fact that stressed corals glow brightly before they die, or that sperm and embryonic cell banks might be many coral species’ last hope. A few, however, offer more promising results—such as the fact that one species of coral, at least, seems to be able to tolerate toastier conditions than previously thought.
Now, a new study published in Global Change Biology joins the coral literature, this one offering a mix of
good and bad news.
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