Top 12 Coral Reef Rescue Missions: The 7th Method Sparks Hope

7. Coral IVF: A Beacon of Hope

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Often referred to as "coral IVF" (in vitro fertilisation), the seventh technique is causing much buzz among scientists. During mass spawning events, coral eggs and sperm are gathered, fertilised under controlled laboratory circumstances, then reintroduced to degraded reef areas using this innovative method. Particularly on the Great Barrier Reef, where scientists have effectively raised millions of coral babies and placed them back onto damaged reefs, the method has showed encouraging outcomes. The process starts during the yearly coral spawning event, a remarkable phenomenon whereby corals synchronously discharge their reproductive cells into the sea. These gametes are gathered by researchers from specifically made nets and then delivered to floating labs. The eggs and sperm are mixed here in perfect conditions to maximise fertilising rates. After that, the resultant larvae are meticulously raised over several days until they are ready to settle. The capacity of this approach to enable cross-fertilization between corals from various reefs helps to greatly increase genetic diversity and robustness in the progeny. Scientists can also choose for coral that have showed resistance to disease or heat stress, therefore ideally passing on these features to the following generation. Although still in its early years, coral IVF presents a glimmer of promise for quickly repairing vast stretches of damaged reef and maybe enabling corals to adapt to new environments.