Palau's heat-resistant reefs could help forge a climate-proof future for coral
A report examines how Palau’s unusually heat-tolerant corals are being used to develop “super coral” that might protect reefs like the Great Barrier Reef from warming seas.
Palau’s reefs have so far escaped the large-scale bleaching that has ravaged other systems, prompting scientists to study their natural resilience. Researchers in Australia are breeding a strain dubbed “super coral,” hoping its larvae can be introduced to vulnerable reefs. The investigation follows the experimental deployment of these robust corals on the Great Barrier Reef as a potential climate-adaptation tool. The piece travels to both Palau and Australian labs to assess the feasibility of this approach amid rising ocean temperatures.
Why it matters
Coral reefs support biodiversity and coastal economies, so finding ways to protect them from climate change is critical.
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