A study led by experts at Newcastle University’s Coralassist Lab has shown that selective breeding can modestly improve coral heat tolerance in adult corals to survive marine heat waves. Although the breeding effort was successful, the improvement was not enough to keep pace with future warming under climate change. Dr. James Guest emphasizes the need for rapid reductions in global greenhouse gas emissions to help corals adapt. The study, published in Nature Communications, highlights the importance of more research to maximize breeding outcomes and operationalize breeding interventions. Selective breeding for coral heat tolerance is possible, but further understanding and development are crucial for successful implementation.
https://phys.org/news/2024-10-scientists-successfully-corals-tolerance.html