Science In Action Coral extinctions and chalky unknowns
Oct 23, 2025
Ross Cumming, a marine biologist, discusses the devastating impact of the 2023 Florida heatwave on coral species, highlighting the urgent need for coral restoration. Patrizio Saveri dives into the uncertainties surrounding plankton's ability to adapt to rising CO2 levels and their crucial role in ocean carbon cycles. Adam Gripper shares intriguing findings suggesting that COVID mRNA vaccines might enhance cancer immunotherapy responses. Lastly, Catherine Nakalembe innovatively explains her ground-truthing methods using GoPros for precise crop mapping in East Africa.
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Florida Heatwave Caused Functional Coral Extinction
- The 2023 Florida heatwave caused 98–100% mortality of staghorn and elkhorn corals across most of the reef.
- Ross Cumming warns that reproductive failure now makes natural recovery extremely unlikely.
Restoration Needs Heat-Tolerant Corals
- Restoration must evolve to boost heat tolerance, not just replant corals.
- Ross Cumming describes crossbreeding and symbiont manipulation as active strategies being trialed.
Prioritize Resilience In Coral Restoration
- Integrate heat-resilience into restoration by sourcing tolerant parents and adjusting symbionts.
- Test crossbreeding and algal symbiont swaps before wide-scale reef replanting.