{"id":6170,"date":"2022-09-16T11:24:40","date_gmt":"2022-09-16T18:24:40","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/coral.org\/?p=6170"},"modified":"2023-03-10T11:31:48","modified_gmt":"2023-03-10T19:31:48","slug":"scientists-believe-evolution-could-save-coral-reefs-if-we-let-it","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/coral.org\/en\/blog\/scientists-believe-evolution-could-save-coral-reefs-if-we-let-it\/","title":{"rendered":"Scientists Believe Evolution Could Save Coral Reefs, If We Let It"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Research shows protecting \u201chot reefs\u201d is key to saving coral reefs<\/em><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA \u2013 September 16, 2022 \u2013<\/strong> Coral reefs can adapt to climate change if given the chance to evolve, according to a study<\/a> led by Coral Reef Alliance, Rutgers University, the University of Washington and other institutions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The recent study, published in the journal Nature Ecology and Evolution<\/em>, finds that coral reefs can evolve and adapt to the effects of climate change\u2014but only if we protect a sufficient diversity of coral reefs, particularly when it comes to temperatures. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cEvolution happens when corals that have already adapted to new environmental conditions breed with corals that have not yet adapted,\u201d said Malin Pinsky, associate professor at Rutgers and a coauthor of the study. \u201cAs ocean temperatures rise, we need to keep corals in hotter waters healthy and protected so they can reproduce and spread their heat tolerance to other coral reef areas.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

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The study advocates for a conservation approach that protects coral reefs at local, regional and global scales, in a way that allows heat tolerance to spread. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The authors of the study said if humanity takes rapid and effective action to keep coral reefs healthy at local scales and addresses climate change, coral reef ecosystems may recover over the next century and thrive in the future.  <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cThe best part about these results are that they underscore the importance of our actions at local scales\u2014we don\u2019t have to just sit back and watch coral reefs suffer as our climate changes,\u201d said Madhavi Colton, lead author of the study and former executive director of the Coral Reef Alliance. \u201cThis study provides guidance on how to design local conservation solutions that will have real, lasting impacts well into the future.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Coral reefs cover less than one percent of the earth\u2019s surface, but they are one of the most biodiverse ecosystems on our planet. Home to about 25 percent of all marine life, coral reefs support an estimated one billion people with food, income and coastal protection. But threats to coral reefs continue to mount. Today, nearly 75 percent of all coral reefs are threatened by climate change and localized human activities. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Scientists predict 99 percent of coral reefs will be lost by the end of this century without concerted efforts to protect them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cWe simply cannot afford to lose coral reefs,\u201d said Helen Fox, conservation science director at the Coral Reef Alliance and a collaborating author on the study. \u201cIt is imperative that we do what we can to save coral reefs now because we will be faced with combined global economic, humanitarian, and biodiversity crises if we do not.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The study was co-authored by Malin Pinsky, associate professor in the Department of Ecology, Evolution, and Natural Resources at Rutgers University, as well as Lisa McManus, who conducted the work as a postdoctoral researcher at Rutgers University and is now faculty at the Hawai\u2018i Institute of Marine Biology, and researchers from Coral Reef Alliance, University of Washington, Stanford University, University of Queensland, Univeristy of British Columbia and The Nature Conservancy. The research was funded by the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation and The Nature Conservancy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

ABOUT THE CORAL REEF ALLIANCE<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Coral Reef Alliance (CORAL) is committed to saving the world\u2019s coral reefs. The nonprofit organization works at local, regional, and global levels to keep coral reefs healthy so they can adapt to climate change and survive for generations to come. Learn more about their approach at coral.org<\/a>. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Download our infographic to learn more.<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Research shows protecting \u201chot reefs\u201d is key to saving coral reefs OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA \u2013 September 16, 2022 \u2013 Coral reefs can adapt to climate change if given the chance to evolve, according to a study led by Coral Reef Alliance, Rutgers University, the University of Washington and other institutions. The recent study, published in the… Continue Reading →<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":6174,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"inline_featured_image":false,"_genesis_hide_title":false,"_genesis_hide_breadcrumbs":false,"_genesis_hide_singular_image":true,"_genesis_hide_footer_widgets":false,"_genesis_custom_body_class":"","_genesis_custom_post_class":"","_genesis_layout":"","_genesis_transparent_header":false,"_genesis_hide_siblings_nav":false,"_genesis_hide_flyout":false,"_genesis_subtitle":"","_genesis_subheading":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[340],"tags":[377,300,309],"class_list":{"0":"post-6170","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-press-release","8":"tag-annual-report-2022","9":"tag-global","10":"tag-science","11":"entry"},"acf":[],"template_part":"\n

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