Pedigree provides insights for maximizing genetic diversity and adaptability in corals bred for conservation. Corals bred in public aquaria provide novel research opportunities and a healthy stock for outplanting into the wild. Both are essential components of a thriving future for coral reef eco
Two-year-old corals sampled for this study fluorescing under UV light in the Academy’s Coral Spawning Lab. Credit: © California Academy of Sciences
“Genetic diversity is what enables species to adapt to the myriad threats resulting from climate change,” says Academy Curator Rebecca Albright, PhD. She founded the Coral Spawning Lab, one of only a handful of facilities on Earth capable of successfully breeding corals. Albright’s work is an integral part of the Academy’sinitiative, which is aimed at halting the decline of coral reefs in this generation.
“Corals are broadcast spawners, meaning that multiple colonies release their sperm and eggs into the water simultaneously and there’s no way to immediately tell which coral parented which offspring,” says Academy coral researcher and study author Elora López-Nandam, PhD. “Surprisingly, we found that just two of the four colonies that spawned in 2019 parented 22 out of the 23 offspring that survived to their 2nd birthday.
In particular, the researchers found 887 points in the 450-million-letter long code that appear to be different in aquarium-bred corals when compared to those born in the wild. “This sort of collaboration between aquarium biologists and scientific researchers is rare,” says Steinhart Aquarium biologist and study author Lisa Larkin. “There are very few places around the world where all of those experts are housed in the same building, working together towards a shared goal. The Academy is unique in that we can propel this kind of research forward while also making a major impact on coral conservation.
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