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https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2024/sep/15/race-is-on-to-produce-a-super-coral-to-survive-worlds-warming-seas>
"It is one of the least understood processes in nature. How do two very
different species learn to live with each other and create a bond, known as
symbiosis, which can give them a powerful evolutionary advantage?
Coral reefs are the most spectacular manifestations of symbiosis – and
understanding the mechanics of this mutual endeavour has become an urgent task
as global warming has triggered the widespread collapse of reefs across the
planet.
In a bid to halt this destruction, an international group of researchers led by
the Wellcome Sanger Institute is working together on the Aquatic Symbiosis
Genomics (ASG) project. Powerful DNA sequencers are now unravelling the genetic
secrets of coral, data that could be vital in saving the world’s reefs, and
understanding the mysterious processes that drive symbiosis.
“Coral reefs are called the rainforests of the seas for a good reason,” said
Michael Sweet, of the University of Derby, and leader of the project. “They
provide homes for a vast array of sealife and have an estimated global worth of
around £6tn a year because of the fishing, tourism industries and coastal
protection they support.”
However, widespread bleaching of reefs from global warming is now causing
worldwide devastation. Sometimes a reef recovers but as bleaching events become
increasingly frequent, they lose their ability to bounce back to good health.
Some of the worst affected sites include the Great Barrier Reef in Australia.
The US National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s Coral Reef Watch
revealed this year that 54% of oceans containing reefs had experienced heat
stress high enough to cause destructive bleaching.
“At the current rate of bleaching, about 90% of the world’s coral reefs will be
functionally extinct by 2030 and will no longer be able to support life,” added
Sweet. “It is extremely worrying.”
Understanding the exact relationship between coral and its symbiotic partner,
algae, is now a key focus of scientific attention. Coral provides protection
for algae, which in turn converts the sun’s energy into food for the coral.
This gives the coral the energy to grow, reproduce, and build its skeleton. The
algae also give coral its colour.
“However, there is a great deal that we still do not know about symbiosis,”
said Mark Blaxter, another research leader at the Wellcome Sanger Institute.
“What happens to species when they go into symbiosis, what changes inside them
and makes them different, and how do the two species collaborate?
“These are crucial questions that we need to answer quickly otherwise coral
reefs are going to be destroyed in less than a decade.”"
Cheers,
*** Xanni ***
--
mailto:xanni@xanadu.net Andrew Pam
http://xanadu.com.au/ Chief Scientist, Xanadu
https://glasswings.com.au/ Partner, Glass Wings
https://sericyb.com.au/ Manager, Serious Cybernetics
