04
March
2016
|
15:00
Asia/Singapore

Corals rise to the challenge

Researchers from the Tropical Marine Science Institute at NUS have found that the native blue coral Heliopora coerulea displayed a clever adaptation in the face of climate change. Their findings were published in Marine and Freshwater Behaviour and Physiology.

Climate change has rendered the marine habitats of coral reefs less favourable by increasing sedimentation in the water. This can adversely affect the coral’s reproduction and release of larvae. Research Fellow Dr Toh Tai Chong and Research Assistant Mr Lionel Ng Chin Soon discovered that the coral has developed inflated tentacles to carry larvae beyond the layer of sediment for release to ensure their propagation. Dr Toh suggested that further research into the various adaptation strategies adopted by Singapore’s coral reefs could help enhance understanding of how they remain resilient.

coral 2

Dr Toh (left) and Mr Ng from TMSI with a sample of coral (Photo: The Straits Times © Singapore Press Holdings)

Read more about their research.