I’d venture to say that most of us have come across a Portuguese man o’ war during a beach trip. I visit the Florida panhandle every year and see them all the time. My kids would find one and get…
Science
A First Ever: International Hybrid Corals Planted in Miami
If you remember from Reef Therapy episode 79, we talked to Sara Stevens about the amazing work that’s being done with coral breeding in an effort to save Florida reefs from the rising temperatures. For the first time ever, corals…
Monsoon Aquatics Successfully Settles Acanthastrea pachysepta and Offers Them For Sale
In recent months, Monsoon Aquatics in Australia spawned Acanthastrea pachysepta. Their spawn has now had time to grow, and they are beginning to offer these pieces for sale to the public. This is a paramount achievement, being one of the…
The Cure to Brown Jelly – A Common Household Item
I have been researching coral pathogens at my university for nearly three years. For several months, the Reef Builders team has been preparing for this moment. This is a summary of my research – this is the cure for brown…
Calling all Citizen Scientists: Help Researchers Listen for the Sounds of a Healthy Coral Reef
Researchers are calling for people to listen to underwater recordings to tell if there are healthy coral reefs present there, or not. Scientists have hundreds of hours of audio recordings taken from Marine Protected Areas around the world to monitor…
Monsoon Aquatics Secures $500,000 Government Grant to Spawn Corals
Monsoon Aquatics in Australia has been awarded a stage 2 Accelerating Commercialisation grant worth $528,000 to continue its work on coral spawning. The project is supported by the Australian Government Department of Industry, Science and Resources through the Entrepreneurs’ Programme,…
Five Australian Coral Species Spawned in Captive Environment
Australian collectors are increasingly joining the charge to conserve coral reefs. While the Queensland based coral collector Inter-Fish Pty Ltd (australiancorals.com.au) is a quiet achiever of the Australian coral collection industry, they just could not help but share their good…
Could Artificial Upwelling Help Reduce Coral Stress During A Bleaching Event?
We’ve often pondered, would pumping cold water up from the deep help corals during a bleaching event? It seems we’re not the only one to ask this question, as a new study published this week tests the hypothesis. A study…
A Skinless Catshark Was Recently Caught Off The Coast of Sardinia
For the first time ever, a team of researchers trawling in Sardinia have brought up a catshark that appeared to have no skin. Investigations into the animal’s anatomy, published in the journal Fish Biology, revealed that the fish possessed none of the…
New “Chip” For Identifying Endangered Corals Could Aid Conservation Efforts
A newly developed genotyping “chip” allows researchers to genetically identify corals and the symbiotic algae that live within the coral’s cells. This new tool is a vital step for establishing and maintaining genetic diversity in reef restoration efforts. A paper…