coral reefs

Australian scientists confirm the mass bleaching, yet are hopeful the world's largest coral reef ecosystem can recover.

The reef is in 'urgent need' of better management to keep the fish as sustainable levels, according to researchers from the University of Miami Rosenstiel School and National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration

Finding the disease persisting in ocean sand means dredging, hurricanes and other things that stir up the ocean floor can spread the disease.

In a paper published Wednesday, scientists from the University of Miami Rosenstiel School and Chicago's Shedd Aquarium explained how, for the first time, they located hardier heat-tolerant coral on Florida's reef.

A University of Miami Rosenstiel study for the first time measured the ability of staghorn coral to reduce wave power.

Stony coral disease has scorched the already struggling reefs of South Florida and caused some species like Florida’s picturesque pillar coral to go locally extinct. The threat is so serious that it has produced an unprecedented national research and “Noah’s Ark” rescue effort, where almost 2,000 corals have been pulled out of Florida’s waters and quarantined in aquariums around the country.

The new research found corals infected with the disease in a lab, and compared to healthy corals from the same genotype, had an immune response. It's a new discovery that could lead to better detection of the disease before it's too late.

Over two days in May, scientists replanted many of the species of coral susceptible to stony coral disease to see if they can survive now that epidemic levels of the disease have subsided.

For more than five years, a disease has been wiping out corals that provide the foundation for Florida's reef tract. Now it's reached the most remote and healthy area of the reef.

A study to determine whether pillar coral should be added to the endangered species list and protected instead found they have gone "functionally extinct." Now scientists are racing to breed new colonies in a rescue project at the Florida Aquarium.

Florida researchers hoping to save coral reefs have begun depositing groups of sea urchins at a Key Biscayne restoration site to see if they can help cure ailing reefs.

Last month, reef organizations were told the $10 million was no longer available. But within weeks of WLRN inquiring, the grant money was reinstated.