Scientists at the UH Hawaiʻi Institute of Marine Biology have made a significant breakthrough in understanding the adaptability of eight common species of Hawaiian coral to ocean warming and acidification. The study revealed that these coral species could survive under “low climate change scenarios,” which involve a global reduction in carbon dioxide emissions.
This research emphasizes the need for climate change mitigation to ensure the survival of coral reefs. The study found that none of the studied species are likely to adapt quickly enough to a high rate of climate change. The key to their survival lies in the reduction of carbon dioxide emissions on a global scale.
Interestingly, the study discovered that a significant portion of the corals’ ability to withstand acidic and warmer conditions is inherited. This suggests that the ability to survive future ocean conditions can be passed down to future generations, offering a glimmer of hope for the long-term survival of these precious marine organisms.
Contrary to most predictions of coral reef collapse due to climate change, this study offers hope for their preservation through evidence of coral adaptability. The Hawaiʻi Institute of Marine Biology (HIMB) found that eight common species of coral found in Hawaiʻi and throughout the Indo-Pacific region can survive under conditions that reflect a global reduction in carbon dioxide emissions.
The study reiterates the importance of reducing carbon dioxide emissions for the survival of coral reefs. None of the species studied could withstand a “business-as-usual” carbon dioxide emissions scenario. This emphasizes that our current approach to carbon dioxide emissions is simply not sustainable if we are to ensure the survival of these vital marine ecosystems.
The study’s unexpected findings suggest that there is still a chance to preserve coral reefs despite most predictions of their demise due to the inability of corals to adapt quickly enough to climate change. The findings from the UH Hawaiʻi Institute of Marine Biology provide a hopeful perspective on the potential resilience of coral species, highlighting the importance of continued research and action in mitigating climate change.
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