Florida Aquarium's latest discovery may help save the continental United States' only coral barrier
Florida Aquarium's latest discovery may help save the continental United States' only coral barrier reef from extinction
BY LI COHEN
APRIL 22, 2020 / 9:40 PM / CBS NEWS
The Florida Aquarium celebrated Earth Day this year by announcing a history-making accomplishment that could help save the United States' only living coral barrier reef from extinction. For the first time, scientists at the aquarium's Center for Conservation have reproduce ridged cactus coral in human care.
According to a press release, researchers made the breakthrough "over several nights" earlier this month. This is also the first time ridged cactus coral larvae have ever been photographed, measured or had their larval release time recorded. The researchers said the ridged cactus coral larvae were the largest they had ever seen.
The aquarium posted about the history-making discovery on Twitter. The video shows the formation and release of ridged cactus coral larvae, which researchers will raise "until they can be returned to the reef."
Link to tweet
Ridged cactus coral is a vital part of the ocean environment referred to as "America's great barrier reef." According to the aquarium, the brightly colored ridged cactus corals, or Mycetophyllia lamarckiana, are brooding coral, which means it releases coral sperm into the water while the eggs stay inside a parent coral and remain there for fertilization and development.
More:
https://www.cbsnews.com/news/the-florida-aquariums-latest-discovery-may-help-save-the-continental-united-states-only-coral-barrier-reef-from/
= new reply since forum marked as read
