SYDNEY, Sept. 1 (Xinhua) -- "Super corals" that naturally thrive in extreme environments could be used in restoration efforts to protect vulnerable reef systems, new Australian research has revealed.
The study offers evidence that these resilient corals can retain their heat tolerance even after being moved to more stable reef habitats, according to a statement released Monday by Australia's University of Technology Sydney (UTS).
Coral reefs, which support 25 percent of marine life and underpin economies worldwide through fisheries, tourism and coastal protection, face severe threats from climate-driven bleaching, but nature may offer a solution through coral species that have adapted to survive in extreme conditions, according to the statement.
The study, published in Science Advances, examined corals from mangrove lagoons near Low Isles on Australia's Great Barrier Reef, with environments known for their harsh conditions such as fluctuating temperatures, low oxygen and low salinity.
Researchers found that when transplanted to a nearby reef one kilometer away with more stable conditions, these "super corals" retained their elevated heat tolerance after one year.
Gene expression analysis shows the transplanted corals activate pathways associated with DNA repair, metabolism and homeostasis, all key mechanisms that help them survive heat stress, said the study's lead author Christine Roper from the UTS Climate Change Cluster.
"This suggests that their resilience is not just environmental but deeply embedded in their biology," she said.
The findings open the door to using these corals in restoration efforts, Roper said.
Similar to agricultural practices where drought-resistant crops are propagated to improve food security, stress-tolerant corals could be selected and outplanted to strengthen reef sites that are ecologically or economically significant, according to the researchers.
"By harnessing nature's own resilience, it's possible to buy time for coral reefs and the communities that depend on them," she said, stressing to drastically reduce carbon emissions to ensure reefs' long-term survival. ■
