Scientists struggle to protect infant corals from hungry fish
Time:2024-05-21 15:26:49 Source:entertainmentViews(143)
South Florida researchers trying to prevent predatory fish from devouring laboratory-grown coral are grasping at biodegradable straws in an effort to restore what some call the rainforest of the sea.
Scientists around the world have been working for years to address the decline of coral reef populations. Just last summer, reef rescue groups in South Florida and the Florida Keys were trying to save coral from rising ocean temperatures. Besides working to keep existing coral alive, researchers have also been growing new coral in labs and then placing them in the ocean.
But protecting the underwater ecosystem that maintains more than 25% of all marine species is not easy. Even more challenging is making sure that coral grown in a laboratory and placed into the ocean doesn't become expensive fish food.
Marine researcher Kyle Pisano said one problem is that predators like parrot fish attempt to bite and destroy the newly transplanted coral in areas like South Florida, leaving them with less than a 40% survival rate. With projects calling for thousands of coral to be planted over the next year and tens of thousands of coral to be planted over the next decade, the losses add up when coral pieces can cost more than $100 each.
Pisano and his partner, Kirk Dotson, have developed the Coral Fort, claiming the small biodegradable cage that's made in part with drinking straws boosts the survival rate of transplanted coral to over 90%.
"Parrot fish on the reef really, really enjoy biting a newly transplanted coral," Pisano said. "They treat it kind of like popcorn."
Previous:Ship that caused Baltimore bridge collapse has been refloated
Next:Medics remove 150 MAGGOTS from a woman's mouth after dental procedure left her with rotting tissue
You may also like
- Election 2024: Biden and Trump bypassed the Commission on Presidential Debates
- Hillary Clinton and Malala Yousafzai producing. An election nigh. ‘Suffs’ has timing on its side
- Myanmar junta releases thousands of prisoners in New Year amnesty — Radio Free Asia
- Olympic champion Suni Lee back in form after debilitating kidney ailment
- Mystery artist who erected signs comparing pothole
- The U.N. rights chief says eastern Congo's escalating violence is being forgotten by the world
- Asian Americans more likely to believe in climate change: AP
- Should I cancel my holiday to Dubai? As UAE is lashed by year
- Kosovo prepares a new draft law on renting prison cells to Denmark after the first proposal failed