Marine scientists in the Florida Keys National Marine Sanctuary have documented the first known case where Atlantic-Caribbean, farm-raised coral has reproduced to serve as a foundation for future reefs.
The discovery is significant because it proves that cultured staghorn corals can not only survive, but also reach sexual maturity and naturally help with coral restoration, marine researchers said.
This is real exciting because this is the future of trying to rebuild these reefs, said Ken Nedimyer, president of the Coral Restoration Foundation and has been involved in coral restoration projects for the past nine years. "What were trying to do is to put the girls and the boys back together in the same room so theyll make babies."
Both staghorn, as well as elkhorn corals, are classifed as threatened under the federal Endangered Species Act and historically are primary reef-building corals in Florida and the Caribbean.
Harvested staghorn gametes were taken to a shoreside laboratory ...
