Breeding Super Corals: Can Science Save Our Reefs from Climate Change?

Coral reefs are among the most diverse ecosystems on Earth, yet they are vanishing at an alarming rate due to climate change. Global coral cover in the Caribbean declined by over 50% in the 1980s alone, decimating marine biodiversity and coastal protection.

Scientists have turned to assisted evolution—selectively breeding corals that tolerate heat and acidification—to help reefs adapt faster than nature alone. This includes manipulating the coral’s microbial partners to enhance resilience and conducting controlled stress experiments to identify robust strains.

Projects in places like Kaneohe Bay, Hawaii, showcase how combining pollution control with active restoration can enable reefs to recover. However, these efforts are labor-intensive and face challenges such as genetic diversity maintenance and ecological unpredictability.

Assisted evolution represents a pragmatic approach to conservation in a rapidly changing world, acknowledging that future ecosystems will be shaped by both natural and human forces.

Next, we ascend to the skies to examine cutting-edge climate interventions like carbon capture and solar geoengineering.