Climate change and stress resistance:
This project focus' on identifying the capability of Great
Barrier Reef corals to adapt rapidly to the warming of the
oceans. It investigates the distribution and abundance of
fluorescent corals on the Great Barrier Reef. Since
fluorescent pigments are often invisible in daylight we are
developing survey techniques using underwater UV-illumination.
We are also investigating post-stress (elevated temperature,
high light, UV) effects on cellular microstructure, physiology
and reproductive capacity of fluorescent corals compared to
non-fluorescent corals of the same species. This will enable
predictions to be made whether there are large populations of
stress-resistant corals, which can withstand global climate
change.
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Photographer David Wachenfeld |
