Healthy corals help revive bleached neighbors in study
Scientists found bleached corals regained color quickly after being placed in contact with healthy clones, with recovery occurring within days.
By Standard Topic. AI-generated from the reporting listed under Coverage. Published . Updated .
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What happened
Researchers, including a team at Stanford, placed sick corals in direct contact with healthy corals of the same genetic make-up. The bleached corals recovered at what the scientists called an incredible speed. The study, published Monday, found that contact with a healthy clone and beneficial algae helped revive them.
Why it matters
Coral reefs face an existential threat from rising seawater temperatures that trigger widespread bleaching. The finding suggests a possible lifeline for bleached reefs.
Timeline
- Oct 14, 2:00 PM ET: A study reported that bleached corals recovered quickly after contact with healthy corals of the same genetic make-up.
- Oct 14, 6:55 PM ET: Stanford researchers announced the study, published Monday, showing bleached corals revive when paired with a healthy clone and beneficial algae.
- Oct 15, 3:20 PM ET: Coverage noted that coral fusion could help bleached reefs, since bleached corals lose the algae they depend on for food.
Coverage
- Better together? Coral fusion could throw bleached reefs a lifeline (phys.org)
- Stanford Scientists Find New Way to Revive Bleached Coral (KQED)
- Healthy corals restore bleached neighbors' color after five days of contact (phys.org)
- Bleached Coral Rebounded After Touching Healthy Coral, Study Finds (The New York Times)
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