WRE News: Miami Scientists Turn to Honduras to Rescue Florida’s Coral Reefs

Miami, FL – July 18, 2024 – Scientists from University of Miami are participating in an effort to potentially solve Florida’s coral crisis by studying fragments of resilient elkhorn from a coral reef off the coast of Honduras.

Last summer’s record-breaking marine heatwave pushed coral reefs in the Florida Keys to the brink, leading scientists at The Florida Aquarium’s Coral Conservation and Research Center in Tampa to study elkhorn colonies as a potential solution. The extreme heat caused coral bleaching and die-offs, prompting the transfer of thousands of corals to labs for protection. Given that coral reefs support a quarter of ocean animals and drive Florida’s tourism industry, the urgency in the efforts highlighted have been expressed by research center director Keri O’Neil.

A team led by Andrew Baker of the University of Miami’s Rosenstiel School collected resilient elkhorn fragments from a reef in Tela Bay, Honduras. Scientists aim to study and breed these corals with Florida’s surviving ones, using a technique called “genetic rescue” to produce heat-resistant offspring.

Previous cross-breeding efforts faced regulatory hurdles due to genetic differences, but the closer relation of Honduran corals to Florida’s may help overcome these challenges, allowing the successful release of resilient offspring into Florida’s reefs.