Palau’s coral reefs are beacons of hope and resiliency in a world where all other global marine ecosystems are in crisis. The corals in Palau have miraculously escaped the bleaching events that have affected reefs worldwide. They’re thriving, even as ocean temperatures continue to climb. No wonder scientists and conservationists are flocking to this rare natural laboratory. Now, they’re figuring out how these “lucky reefs” might be used to save coral systems from climate change in other areas.
Palau has not experienced a severe mass bleaching event in more than 20 years. This enduring geographic calmness has rendered it an essential site of coral research. As recently as Peter Mumby, a professor from the University of Queensland, remarked, these corals have never seen better days. This hardly-touched environment provides a real-world laboratory for scientists to learn how these corals are flourishing in the face of climate change’s most dangerous threats.
A Sanctuary for Biodiversity
Palau’s coral reefs are flourishing thanks in part to the country’s distinctive geography. Vast atolls and picture perfect waters make ideal conditions for a stunning array of marine life. These reefs are not only beautiful, they’re important sanctuaries, home to an incredible diversity of species and supporting local fisheries. Cinzia Alessi, an Italian coral eco physiologist at the Palau International Coral Reef Centre (PICRC), marvels at this pristine environment. This makes it the perfect living laboratory for scientific research.
Alessi’s work at the PICRC involves studying Palau’s resilient corals to understand how they withstand marine heatwaves. “Palau is really a place where scientists want to come because it’s quite pristine and you can take out some of the disturbances that you can observe in other reefs,” she stated. This clarity gives scientists a target to hone in on, to understand what specifically makes Palau’s corals more tolerant to temperature shock.
Palau’s reefs are a place not only for rich biodiversity, but an exciting experiment. Fisheries scientists are employing same selective breeding techniques to improve coral resilience. The PICRC is leading efforts to breed “super corals.” These corals, resilient to warming waters, may serve as models for other reefs to survive and adapt to climate-warmed oceans.
Innovative Restoration Efforts
Coral restoration efforts throughout Palau have conservationist and ocean advocate Ann Singeo at the forefront. Her team has been pioneering new techniques to promote the growth and health of corals. One innovative approach includes using star-shaped ceramic structures that cradle baby corals — or spat — and using them to repair damaged parts of the reef. Each device can rehabilitate an area as large as ten baby corals per device, a meaningful step toward restoring habitat destroyed by typhoons.
Singeo emphasizes the importance of these efforts, stating that “nature has its own way of caring for itself that is beyond us humans.” The collaborative approach between scientists and local conservationists aims to create sustainable practices that can be replicated in other regions facing similar challenges.
As encouraging as these restoration efforts are, experts warn they are not a cure-all. Kate Quigley, a marine scientist, remarked on the limitations of such methods: “It’s really important that we don’t greenwash these kinds of methods and that we’re very clear that this is going to give us a little bit more time, but it is not the long-term solution.” Quigley recognizes that none of these efforts will fully insulate even the most resilient reefs from ongoing climate change threats.
Challenges Ahead
Even with all the success measured in Palau’s coral reefs, scientists and conservationists working on the project feel a sense of urgency. Alessi noted, “It is feasible, it’s a lot of work, but we need more people doing this because we are running out of time.” In her comments, she was careful to say that although Palau’s corals are thriving, other reef ecosystems might not be as lucky.
Quigley echoed this sentiment by referencing other coral systems like Ningaloo: “Ningaloo shows us this year that it’s only a matter of time for even those lucky reefs.” Coral ecosystems across the planet are under unprecedented threat from increasing water temperatures and ocean acidification. This crisis underscores the need to adopt more adaptive strategies faster.
Scientists are investigating coral-assisted evolution experiments to boost reefs’ defenses against marine heatwaves. To do this, these experiments seek to determine which genetic traits enable some coral species to withstand these extreme conditions.
