Hope for Coral Reefs: IVF-Bred Corals Thrive Amid Record Heat

A recent study reveals that young corals bred through in vitro fertilization (IVF) have shown remarkable resilience during last year’s record marine heatwave, with 90% of them remaining healthy compared to only 25% of older corals, The Guardian reported yesterday.

Conducted by Dr. Margaret Miller at Secore International, the research highlights the success of these young corals, which were planted across reefs in the Caribbean, Mexico, and the US.

The IVF method, developed by Secore, enhances genetic diversity among corals, increasing their adaptability to heat stress. This contrasts with traditional fragmentation techniques that produce clones. Miller noted, “Natural selection back in the reef environment will choose the best ones.”

The study focused on elkhorn corals (Acropora palmata) in the Dominican Republic, where young corals thrived while older ones suffered severe bleaching. Researcher Maria Villalpando stated, “Sadly, we lost most of them after this bleaching event.”

While the exact reasons for the young corals’ heat tolerance remain unclear, they may better acquire heat-tolerant algae. However, Miller warns that as these corals age, their heat resilience may decline, emphasizing the need to address climate change’s root causes while supporting coral populations. “We need to buy some time,” she concluded.