Scientists Crossbreed Corals, Make Them Fitter for Climate Change

Australia’s Great Barrier Reef – the world’s biggest reef system – has been suffering with increasing bleaching events. As a result, scientists have been working hard to lessen the impact, and crossbreeding corals looks to be a promising solution.

According to the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park Authority, the natural landmark has undergone a “very widespread” third mass coral bleaching episode in five years, with events hitting vast areas of the reef.

But a tropical marine research center in Townsville is looking into super corals that can withstand warmer water temperatures to help the Great Barrier Reef survive. The research, conducted by scientists at the Australian Institute of Marine Science, has shown encouraging results that through crossbreeding 25 strains of coral, offspring produced from mixing corals from various parts of the reef could potentially survive increased water temperatures.