Great fun chatting with Paul Turner and Jan on #TransformingTomorrow! 🌳🪸🐠📈 Really enjoying this collaboration with LEC Reefs Lancaster Environment Centre The Pentland Centre for Sustainability in Business Lancaster University Management School open.spotify.com/episode/7b1gXt…

📢New Paper Alert📢 on corals and climate change in Science Magazine Adaptation via natural selection could determine whether Acroporacorals persist under expected levels of global warming Hyperlinks & explainer thread below ⬇️ (1/12)

Our thoughts at The Conversation: theconversation.com/corals-can-ada… The full paper in Science Magazine: doi.org/10.1126/scienc… Open access accepted version: eprints.ncl.ac.uk/302731 (2/12)

Marine heatwaves and resulting mass coral bleaching & mortality events remain the single biggest threat to coral reefs globally. We set out to test whether coral adaptation via natural selection could occur fast enough to keep pace with ocean warming. (3/12)

We find that natural selection could be able to offset some of the projected degradation of reefs. But this will depend on our collective action toward decarbonisation to limit and reverse global warming. (4/12)

No matter our actions on reducing emissions, Acroporacorals are expected to decline over the coming decades. But if we can achieve Paris Agreement commitments and limit warming to 2°C, then natural selection could allow Acropora populations to thrive beyond 2050. (5/12)

Given current climate policies (which are lagging behind Paris commitments), we're on track for a ~3°C warmer world Including adaptation in our model can make the difference between Acropora corals being lost vs. persisting, albeit with a potential loss of reef function (6/12)

If we abandon the cause for climate action & global temperatures rise by ~5°C, Acropora corals in our model disappear. This holds true even for a an upper limit of adaptive potential, where heat tolerance is 100% genetically determined & inherited perfectly. (7/12)

Our work is a call to action. If we want healthy reefs we must reduce emissions & manage reefs strategically to promote adaptation potential. It's also a call away from complacency. Adaptation may well help maintain coral populations if we can deliver on decarbonisation. (8/12)

But there is also scope to bolster natural adaptation rates, e.g., via “assisted evolution”. We now know that selective breeding corals to improve adult tolerance to lethal heatwaves is feasible. doi.org/10.1038/s41467… (9/12)

Now we must combine this knowledge to support natural adaptation and enhance the heat tolerance of key coral species at local scales for high priority reefs. (10/12)

Thanks for supporting this work: UK Research and Innovation Natural Environment Research Council ONE Planet DTP European Research Council (ERC) Mitacs Royal Geographical Society (with IBG) International Coral Reef Society IDEA WILD Coauthors: YM Bozec, J Bythell, Simon Donner Holly East AJ Edwards Yimnang Golbuu Marine Gouezo James Guest Adriana Humanes C Riginos & Peter Mumby (11/12)

Thanks to all the other supportive groups & institutions helping fuel ideas in our field: Palau International Coral Reef Center (PICRC) Australian Institute of Marine Science Sciences at Newcastle Ecology Group, Newcastle University Coralassist Lab UQ Science UBC Oceans (also found at ubcoceans.bsky.social) Southern Cross University (12/12)

We'll celebrate our 24th anniversary on January 23rd, 2025! The theme for our upcoming Anniversary Dinner, ‘Resilient Ocean, Resilient Community’, highlights the interconnectedness between healthy ocean ecosystems and the wellbeing of Palauan people. picrc.org/picrcs-24th-an…

The critical role of coral reef restoration in a changing world | Nature Climate Change nature.com/articles/s4155…

Delighted to see our paper out in Science Magazine today. And congrats for the amazing picture James Guest! science.org/doi/10.1126/sc… Sciences at Newcastle UQ Science

Allee effects require corals to lie within a few metres of their neighbours to achieve successful fertilisation. doi.org/10.1073/pnas.2… open access Gerard Ricardo Christopher Doropoulos Palau International Coral Reef Center (PICRC)

Watch our new video showcasing the collaborative project between Palau International Coral Reef Center (PICRC) and Coralassist Lab on climate-smart management of Palau's reefs! shorturl.at/9vfqq

Congrats to Rubén de la Torre on his first PhD paper showing that a period of darkness post-sunset can regulate the date of spawning in an Acropora coral.

Looking for a job or an opportunity in coral conservation? We’ve got you covered! All over the world, research teams are working tirelessly to save corals—and many are searching for passionate individuals to join their mission. If you’re looking for a career in coral