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Rare Caribbean coral grown in lab for the first time

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Caribbean pillar coral, a rare and threatened coral species, has been bred and raised in a lab by scientists for the first time.

The work provides the first photos and documentation of juveniles of this species, and could provide information to aid the conservation of coral reefs in the study area.

The team plans to “out-plant” these lab-grown juveniles in the wild, which could help populations become more resilient to climate change.

The Caribbean pillar coral Dendrogyra cylindrus is rare and understudied, and small juveniles of this species have never been seen in over 30 years of surveys in the Caribbean. The species is one of very few corals in the Caribbean that forms large branches which can provide shelter for important fish species and can reduce the energy of storm surge as it approaches shore.

“Strangely enough, pillar corals happen to spawn just half an hour before another threatened coral that is far better studied —t he elkhorn corals,” says Kristen Marhaver, lead author of the study and senior fellow at TED.

“So the reason why for so many years we’ve never witnessed spawning pillar corals is that while they were spawning, virtually all coral spawning researchers and photographers in the Caribbean were on their boats doing final preparations on their dive gear for elkhorn coral spawning. It was literally right under our noses for years.”

The findings were presented at a TED Conference in Vancouver, Canada last night, and also appears in the journal BMC Ecology. Mónica Medina, associate professor of biology at Penn State, is a coauthor of the study.

‘SMOKE STACK’ CORALS

Pillar corals form a unique “smoke stack” shape like no other coral species, and they display unusual mating behavior compared to most spawning coral species. Most spawning corals are hermaphrodites that release large bundles of eggs and sperm.

Pillar corals, which spawn only on a few specific nights of the year, build colonies that are either all male or all female. The males first release sperm into the seawater, shortly followed by the females releasing their individual eggs. This timing makes collection and breeding research extremely difficult.

“Now that we’ve successfully reared juvenile pillar corals in the lab, not only can we study them in more detail to find out what factors could be threatening their survival in the wild, but it also means that we can try to out-plant a small number back to the reef,” says Marhaver, who began this work as a postdoctoral researcher at the University of California.

“We don’t know if this will work and it is certainly not a cure-all for the reef. But especially in such a rare coral species, a tiny boost of a few new individuals could make a big difference in their genetic diversity, allowing their populations to adapt and become more resilient to the changing environment in the oceans.”

AFTER THE FULL MOON

After studying the sunset times and lunar cycles taken from other spawning observations, the research team timed their egg and sperm collection around the most likely annual spawning times — exactly three nights after the August full moon and around 100 minutes after sunset.

At depths of roughly 20-22 feet on a Curaçaoan coral reef with a large population of pillar corals, the team arranged nets and funnels over the female colonies to automatically collect eggs, and used syringes near the male colonies to manually collect sperm from spawn clouds as they appeared.

The team then attempted to fertilize the eggs by mixing the collected eggs and sperm underwater and on shore.

In the lab, the team carefully adjusted several factors related to fertilization times and seawater type and nurtured the eggs to develop into larvae. The scientists managed to successfully grow the embryos to the swimming larvae stage—the first time this have ever been seen—and settled them onto ceramic tripods in water tanks. The settled juveniles then survived for over seven months.

HOW TO PROTECT CORALS

Now that they have determined how best to grow these coral in the lab, work can begin on studying how different factors affect their survival. By testing in the lab the effect of water type, contaminants, or the presence of different species of animals and bacteria, the scientists may be able to translate these findings to the wild, and explain why juvenile pillar corals are missing in certain areas.

This research may help to support the protection of local coastal areas. Populations of branching coral colonies often are identical genetically, making them extremely susceptible to threats such as disease and temperature shock. The team therefore plans to return a few lab-reared juveniles to the reef to see if they will grow and help jump-start the population’s genetic diversity.

This work could help the species to adapt and to become more resilient to threats such as climate change. Evidence is growing that juvenile corals can adjust better than adult corals in some places to changing environments. The introduction of new juveniles to the reef, therefore, could help buffer these ecosystems against global threats that affect all corals.

“Given how rare the juveniles are in nature, it was a bit of a question whether the species was still reproducing at all,” says Marhaver. “Corals can also reproduce by fragmentation, so a huge field of pillar corals could in fact be from one single parent colony and might not be able to reproduce.

“Now that we have some of the first solid evidence that they are still able to reproduce, it means we can be cautiously optimistic about the future of this threatened species.”

 

Source: www.futurity.org

Photo: Kristen Marhaver

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Explorer Ventures Launches Hot Summer / Cool Prices Sale

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Explorer Ventures

Save up to $1100 on select liveaboard dive trips from June through October 2025

Explorer Ventures Fleet is turning up the heat with its new Hot Summer / Cool Prices sale. For a limited time, divers can save $1000 or more on select liveaboard departures from June through October 2025.

Whether you’re ready to dive into crystal-clear summer waters or planning a cool fall escape, this promotion offers major savings on world-class dive adventures in the Galápagos, Turks & Caicos, and the Caribbean.

Hot Summer / Cool Prices – For the Summer Dive Traveler:

From June through August, take advantage of deep discounts on summer getaways. Enjoy up to $1100 off select trips aboard the Humboldt Explorer in the Galápagos or save $1000 on select summer departures aboard Turks & Caicos Explorer Il and Caribbean Explorer II, exploring magic of Saba and St. Kitts.

Cool Fall / Hot Prices – For Travel in the Fall:

Leave the cool weather and falling leaves behind — fall is the perfect time to head south and save. Take $1000 off select departures from September through October aboard Turks & Caicos Explorer II and Caribbean Explorer II.

See all details and departure dates: www.explorerventures.com/discounts-and-specials

Space is limited – and once the trips are full, the savings are gone. Book now to secure your spot!

Looking for other dates or destinations? There are more savings available across the fleet, including liveaboard diving holidays in Indonesia, the Maldives, the Red Sea, and Palau. Explore all current deals here: https://www.explorerventures.com/year-of-savings-dive-liveaboard-specials/

Contact:

info@explorerventures.com

1.800.322.3577 (US/Canada) | +1.307.235.0683

www.explorerventures.com

About Explorer Ventures Liveaboard Fleet

Since 1987, Explorer Ventures Liveaboard Fleet has been delivering world-class liveaboard diving, blending authentic experiences with a commitment to safety and sustainability. Operating in some of the world’s most breathtaking underwater destinations, their fleet of well-appointed vessels ensures every guest enjoys the highest level of comfort and care.

Explorer Ventures is proud to be the first liveaboard company to collaborate with Green Fins, earning certifications on four vessels: Caribbean Explorer II, Turks & Caicos Explorer II, Tiburon Explorer, and Humboldt Explorer. Notably, Tiburon Explorer and Humboldt Explorer are the only PADI Eco Centers designated in the Galápagos, underscoring their dedication to sustainable and responsible diving practices. With exceptional destinations, a global array of itineraries, and diver-focused design across the fleet, every voyage is crafted for comfort, convenience, and adventure—both above and below the surface.

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Marine Life & Conservation

Make Every Dive Count

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The Shark Trust Great Shark Snapshot is back for its 4th year! And this time the Shark Trust are asking you to Make Every Dive Count!

The last week of July will see the return of the Shark Trust’s citizen science initiative: The Great Shark Snapshot. It encourages divers and snorkellers, all around the world, to record the sharks and rays that they see. This year it takes place between the 19th and 27th July. Get ready to dive in!

The event is back for its 4th year, and it is happening in “Shark Month”, more commonly known as July! To coincide with a series of events that celebrate all things shark and ray, including Shark Week and the 50th anniversary of Jaws.

Divers, clubs, centres, charter boats and liveaboards are all encouraged to show their support by organising dives and events throughout the week. As well as gathering vital data, the event will provide a chance to celebrate the incredible shark and ray species that live in our ocean.

Information about the species and numbers of sharks and rays the participants find over the week will be added to the Shark Trust’s Shark Log. This global shark census will, over time, allow shark scientists to build a picture of species distribution and any changes that occur

Caroline Robertson-Brown, Marketing Manager at the Shark Trust said “It is great to see this popular citizen science event back for its 4th year. We are asking divers to Make Every Dive Count this year. To identify. Count and Record every shark, ray and eggcase they see during the week-long event. To organise dives especially to take part. Whether you are diving your local dive site, or on a trip of a lifetime, we want divers to join in on the Great Shark Snapshot in July.”

It is easy to join in. Just go diving between 19th and 27th July and record every shark, ray, skate or eggcase that you and your dive group sees. If possible, take photos and some video footage too. Then make sure that you record your sightings on the Shark Trust Shark Log recordings website or by using the Shark Trust app.

This year we have created a digital guide that puts all the information you need in one handy online guide. Which can be downloaded from the website.

The Great Shark Snapshot is a way for divers to get together, go diving, and do something to help shark conservation. Why not dive in?

Find out more here: www.sharktrust.org/snapshot

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