Breeding corals throughout the year for their restoration

Summary

KAUST researchers are studying corals in the Red Sea and Arabian Gulf that are more tolerant of high temperatures. They are mating corals from different parts of the world, assuming that the offspring will be more heat-resistant. Using a commercial coral spawning system, the researchers can time coral spawning to cross colonies that would not naturally cross. Why it matters: This research aims to identify genes responsible for temperature resilience and use selective breeding to increase coral resilience in the face of rising ocean temperatures.