Florida studies corals resistant to ocean warming
Off the coast of Florida in the United States, scientists and trained volunteers are planting young corals on reefs and studying their ability to withstand increasingly warmer seawater. The work is being carried out as part of the University of Miami’s Rescue a Reef program, which combines reef restoration, scientific research, and educational outreach.
As Asharq Al-Awsat reports, part of the program’s work is devoted to finding coral species that may better survive and recover after heat stress. Coral reefs support marine ecosystems and also reduce coastal erosion and the risk of flooding during storms.
Planting corals on the reef
During a dive at Rainbow Reef, about three miles from Key Biscayne, expedition participants planted corals in several ways. Species with fast-growing branches are placed on structures suspended in the water column that resemble old television antennas. Other corals are installed on frames secured to the seafloor or mounted on special fixtures and planted directly on the reef.
Researchers place colored reference scales near newly planted corals to record pigmentation. This helps monitor their condition and detect early signs of heat stress. According to program director Devon Ledbetter, Mountainous Star Coral usually proves to be among the most resistant to bleaching and heat stress.
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Consequences of marine heat
Corals consist of small animals, polyps, which live in symbiosis with microscopic algae in their tissues. Under the influence of heat or pollution, the algae may leave the coral. As a result, it bleaches, becomes vulnerable to disease, and may die.
The record marine heatwave that began in 2023 led to the functional disappearance of two ecologically important species, elkhorn and staghorn, on the Florida Coral Reef. According to an assessment by the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the fourth global mass coral bleaching event likely ended in mid-2025. At the same time, the emergence of a very strong El Niño could cause new large-scale bleaching events, including in Florida waters.
This summer, Rescue a Reef participants planted 615 corals, 228 of which were included in a study of thermal bleaching. The results are provided to the state’s environmental and wildlife protection authorities. The program was launched in 2015.
