The Scientist - USA (2021-02)

VOL. 35 ISSUE 2 | THE SCIENTIST 31

HANNA KOCH, MOTE MARINE LABORATORY

dynamics, including the presence of certain grazers and the

prevalence of competitors.

For the best possible ecological outcomes, coral restoration

should be combined with other measures such as habitat pro-

tection. Restoration strategies must also take into consideration

the genetic consequences of their design and implementation.

The methods with which practitioners select, rear, propagate,

and manipulate corals for restoring degraded reefs will have

consequences for the survivorship of outplants and resilience

of restored populations. Understanding the genetic and demo-

graphic properties that influence the ability of populations to

adapt to rapidly changing selective pressures will help practitio-

ners design and implement optimal strategies. Finally, to miti-

gate the negative impacts of rapid climate change on coral reef

ecosystems, carbon emissions need to be reduced.

Despite the challenges that lie ahead, there is reason for hope. For

the first time in a long time, we have research that suggests the world’s

corals can recover from the devastation they’ve endured—with some

help. Already, hundreds of millions of dollars are being devoted to

coral reef restoration around the world. Now, we’ve demonstrated a

way to successfully invest those funds: a microfragmentation-fusion

approach that provides the basis for quickly restoring coral popula-

tions to a sexually mature, potentially self-sustaining state, fundamen-

tally changing the paradigm for coral restoration science. J

Hanna R. Koch is a Mote Postdoctoral Research Fellow at Mote

Marine Laboratory’s Elizabeth Moore International Center for

Coral Reef Research & Restoration in Summerland Key, Flor-

ida. Mote Senior Scientist Erinn Muller is Manager of both the

Coral Health & Disease Research Program and the Coral Resto-

ration Program. Michael P. Crosby is a Senior Scientist and the

president & CEO of Mote Marine Laboratory and Aquarium.

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