SYDNEY, May 21 (Xinhua) -- Coral offspring can disperse more than 100 km across the western Pacific, linking distant reef systems and boosting their ability to recover from climate stress, new research reveals.
The study, published in Current Biology, shows for the first time the connectivity between the broadcast-spawning coral populations of the Great Barrier Reef, Coral Sea atolls and New Caledonia in the Western Pacific, said a statement from Australia's Southern Cross University released Thursday.
Australian and French researchers analyzed over 1,000 corals from 29 reef sites, finding that a common coral branching species forms large, interconnected breeding populations whose larvae disperse widely on ocean currents.
"This wide dispersal can help populations recover after disturbances such as marine heatwaves, crown-of-thorns starfish outbreaks or cyclones," said study lead author Hugo Denis of Southern Cross University.
This also allows distant populations to occasionally exchange gametes and genetic variants, which can help reefs adapt to changing environmental conditions, Denis said.
The study highlights the role of genetic diversity, including contributions from symbiotic algae, in strengthening coral resilience.
"Genetic diversity is the fuel for adaptation, like a shared toolbox in a community, the greater the variety of tools, the better it can build new things, fix problems and respond to changing conditions," Denis added.
The findings underscore the need for cross-border conservation strategies, as reef connectivity extends beyond national borders and plays a crucial role in the survival of ecosystems. ■
