American scientists from the University of Texas at Arlington have identified disease-resistant “super corals” in the Caribbean. They can provide the basis for breeding new populations of resilient organisms and protecting coral reefs. To work published In Science magazine.
In addition to bleaching due to global warming, corals also face the risk of bacterial infection known as white band disease. It spread throughout the Caribbean Sea, almost completely destroying staghorn and related corals within two years. Losses reached 95%.
To find a solution to the problem, researchers analyzed 50 staghorn coral genotypes preserved in the waters of Panama and Florida. They identified 33 resistant genotypes and 15 that turned out to be nearly impervious to infection. The last group was called “super corals”.
According to experts, such corals can be used to create new nurseries and, with their help, gradually restore lost reefs in the Caribbean.
Previous scientists offered How to save corals in the Great Barrier Reef.