The Hidden Costs of Wastewater Inaction
We’re committed to protecting the world’s coral reefs, which are home to 25% of the world’s marine species and support the livelihoods of millions across the globe. Our work is no easy task. Reefs face a multitude of threats, from overfishing to coral bleaching caused by climate change. But you...
Behind the scenes of research at a coral mesocosm
By Daniela Restrepo Galeano What is a mesocosm? If you have ever seen or owned a garden in a jar, congratulations! You are familiar with mesocosms. To make it simple, a mesocosm is an experimental enclosed space that simulates a real ecosystem and allows for the manipulation of environmental factors (Alexander et...
Guiding Lights: How Newborn Corals Find a Home
By Pedro Cardoso As dawn breaks, a lizard crawls up a rock in order to bask in the sun and heat itself before starting its daily activities. A caterpillar slinks up a tree branch to reach the green leaves it will graze upon. Dolphins surf breaking waves and quickly catch their...
A DECADE UNBOTHERED: 10 YEARS OF LIONFISH IN BRAZILIAN REEFS
By Thomás Banha Lionfish (Pterois spp.) were first recorded in the western Atlantic in the 1980s and rapidly spread across the Caribbean, causing significant ecological impacts. Many years later, in 2014, it finally reached Brazil – but not in the way scientists had anticipated. A decade after the first sighting, we...
We’re here, we’re queer: Queerness in the reef and beyond
By Anna Fiesinger Homophobia and many other forms of discrimination are on the rise. Queerphobia – an umbrella term for discrimination against members of the LGBTQIA+ community and those whose gender does not conform to strictly male or female – is still firmly anchored in our society. Many claim the church...
Coral mini heroes: who are the Beneficial Microorganisms for Corals (BMCs)?
By Helena Villela When you hear the word “bacteria,” you might think of germs, diseases or infections. But guess what? These tiny organisms often living in partnership with a lot of animals (including humans and corals!) are not always the bad guys. In fact, for corals, bacteria are like their secret...
The Tip of The Iceberg: Cold-water Corals
By Anika Delic When thinking about corals, we often picture sandy beaches, crystal clear waters, and warm weather. However, some corals would not particularly enjoy these conditions, specifically, cold-water corals. As the name implies, they live in regions of the world other than the tropics and thrive in a wide range...
Friends in unlikely places: key coral microbes in giant clam poop
By Carly E. Karrick We all poop, but did you know that giant clams do, too? Lucky for us, a team of researchers in Japan did. They even went so far as to ask: what’s in giant clam poop, and could it help reef-building corals? Corals rely on tiny algae for survival,...
