JoVE - Journal of Visualized Experiments
JoVE Visualize
Contact Us

Assisted sexual coral recruits show high thermal tolerance to the 2023 Caribbean mass bleaching event

  • 0SECORE International, Miami, FL, United States of America.
Plos One +

|

September 18, 2024

|

September 18, 2024

View abstract on PubMed

Summary

This summary is machine-generated.

Assisted sexual coral recruits showed significantly lower bleaching (10%) than adult corals (60-100%) during a 2023 marine heatwave. This highlights the resilience of sexually propagated corals for reef restoration efforts.

Area Of Science

  • Marine Biology
  • Coral Reef Ecology
  • Conservation Science

Background

  • Assisted sexual coral propagation enhances genetic diversity, potentially increasing coral population adaptability and resilience.
  • Coral restoration often utilizes clonal propagation, which may limit genetic diversity.
  • Juvenile corals from assisted sexual reproduction (AR) are increasingly used in Caribbean restoration.

Purpose Of The Study

  • To evaluate the relative resilience of assisted sexual recruits (AR) compared to other coral populations during a major marine heatwave.
  • To assess the impact of the 2023 Caribbean marine heatwave on AR populations of six coral species.
  • To compare bleaching prevalence and mortality between AR and conspecific adults, fragmented corals, and extant assemblages.

Main Methods

  • Surveyed six species of AR (1-4 years old) across five Caribbean regions during the 2023 bleaching season (Aug-Dec).
  • Compared bleaching prevalence and mortality of AR with conspecific adult colonies, fragmented corals, and existing coral communities.
  • Quantified heat stress using Degree Heating Weeks (DHWs).

Main Results

  • AR exhibited significantly lower bleaching prevalence (~10%) compared to conspecific adult populations (~60-100%).
  • Fragmented corals showed intermediate bleaching susceptibility between AR and wild adults.
  • AR demonstrated high bleaching resistance, tolerating heat stress exceeding 20°C-weeks.

Conclusions

  • Assisted sexual recruits possess greater resilience to marine heatwaves than corals from clonal propagation or wild adult populations.
  • Restoration strategies incorporating sexual reproduction and seeding are crucial for sustaining coral populations facing increasing heat stress.
  • AR represent a promising approach for building resilient coral reef ecosystems globally.