American scientists from the University at Buffalo in New York have discovered which types of algae contribute to the survival of soft octocols in conditions of rising sea temperatures. The study was published in the scientific journal magazine Science Advances (SciAdv).
Octocorals or eight-rayed corals are found in the Caribbean Sea. The team studied these organisms for two years, trying to uncover the mechanism of heat resistance.
“In this study, we investigated possible mechanisms contributing to the increased hardiness and resilience of three octocoral species in the face of repeated marine heatwaves leading to bleaching,” said lead author Professor Mary Alice Coffroth.
The study found that octogenarians survived heat waves thanks to tiny symbiotic algae, dinoflagellates of the genus Breviolum.
“During the heatwave, Breviolum density decreased but recovered rapidly. At the same time, the survival rate of octocorals was high compared to their relatives, scleractinian hard corals,” the scientist explained.
According to Coffort, the resilience of modern corals to rising temperatures has increased in recent years. This shows that marine life has evolved to adapt to the changing climate.
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