Human diet trick could save coral reefs

Coral reefs are beautiful to behold, and essential for maintaining the natural balance of life in the world’s oceans.

And all over the world, they are slowly starving to death.

Under stress from climate change and rising levels of carbon dioxide, coral in nature is continually struggling to find nutrition.

It's a common problem for humans too; it's one of the reasons why the dietary supplement market is booming.

So – why not develop special nutritional supplements, and feed them to the coral?

Researchers from the University of Miami are doing exactly that, and the results are encouraging.

“For many years we have known the some types of symbiotic algae can convey climate change resilience to corals,” Chris Langdon, UM Rosenstiel School professor and chair of marine biology and ecology, told ScienceDaily.com.

Staghorn coral, a species once common around Florida and throughout the Caribbean, is now critically endangered. The research suggests that two supplemental feedings of dried zooplankton powder per week not only protects it from carbon dioxide, but from ocean acidification as well.

"In this study we found that the threatened coral was able to increase its feeding rate and stored energy reserves when exposed to high CO2 conditions at 26°C or 30°C, and mitigate reductions in calcification that caused significant decreases in growth rate in unfed corals," researchers reported.

According to the International Coral Reef Initiative, an informal partnership of nations and organizations striving to preserve the world’s coral reefs and related ecosystems, these are the benefits of healthy coral:

• Habitat: Home to over one million diverse aquatic species, including thousands of types of fish.

• Income: Billions of dollars and millions of jobs in over 100 countries around the world.

• Food: For people living near coral reefs, especially on small islands.

• Protection: A natural barrier protecting coastal cities, communities and beaches.

• Medicine: The potential for treatments for many of the world's most prevalent and dangerous illnesses and diseases.

America’s National Ocean Service calls corals “the medicine cabinets of the 21^st century,” citing treatments for cancer, arthritis, human bacterial infections, Alzheimer’s disease, heart disease, viruses, and other maladies.