Selective Breeding Boosts Coral Heat Tolerance, But Challenges Remain

A breakthrough study shows modest improvements in coral resilience to heatwaves, highlighting the need for urgent climate action.

Researchers at Newcastle University have successfully bred corals to enhance their heat tolerance, marking a world-first achievement in coral conservation.
The study, published in Nature Communications, demonstrates that selective breeding can improve coral offspring's heat tolerance by about 1°C-week within a single generation.
Despite these gains, scientists caution that the improvements are modest compared to the severity of future marine heatwaves driven by climate change.
The research underscores the critical need for rapid reductions in global greenhouse gas emissions to provide corals with a chance to adapt.
Further research is necessary to address challenges such as trait dilution in natural populations and to refine breeding strategies for optimal outcomes.