Innovative Restoration Using Resilient Corals to Enhance Coastal Protection in Hawaiʻi
Kira Hughes, MS - Hawaiʻi Institute of Marine Biology
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Coral reefs are one of the most diverse and threatened ecosystems that provide valuable services to our local communities, fish and wildlife. Reefs can dissipate up to 97% of wave energy caused by storms and buffer sea level rise impacts, providing coastal protection for an estimated 500 million people worldwide. The total economic value of coral reefs in the main Hawaiian Islands alone is nearly $34 billion. However, the absorption of greenhouse gas emissions is heating up the ocean, resulting in warming events that occur faster than corals can naturally adapt. It is predicted that only 10% of corals will survive past 2050 as ocean warming events become more frequent and last longer. "Coral bleaching" occurs in response to thermal stress, causing corals to expel the algae living in their tissues, leaving the coral to appear white and potentially die without their main food source.
Problem
Coral reefs are one of the most diverse and threatened ecosystems that provide valuable services to our local communities, fish and wildlife. Reefs can dissipate up to 97% of wave energy caused by storms and buffer sea level rise impacts, providing coastal protection for an estimated 500 million people worldwide. The total economic value of coral reefs in the main Hawaiian Islands alone is nearly $34 billion. However, the absorption of greenhouse gas emissions is heating up the ocean, resulting in warming events that occur faster than corals can naturally adapt. It is predicted that only 10% of corals will survive past 2050 as ocean warming events become more frequent and last longer. "Coral bleaching" occurs in response to thermal stress, causing corals to expel the algae living in their tissues, leaving the coral to appear white and potentially die without their main food source.
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We are investigating whether resilient corals will enhance restoration efforts. We will identify coral stocks that are more resilient to thermal stress, grow them in in situ nurseries, and propagate them in close proximity to their origin.
Solution
We are investigating whether resilient corals will enhance restoration efforts. We will identify coral stocks that are more resilient to thermal stress, grow them in in situ nurseries, and propagate them in close proximity to their origin.
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We will infuse existing restoration projects with resilient corals to increase the return on investment and enhance future success. Fragmentation and microfragmentation methods will be used to increase coral growth rates.
Restoration
We will infuse existing restoration projects with resilient corals to increase the return on investment and enhance future success. Fragmentation and microfragmentation methods will be used to increase coral growth rates.
We will out-plant a total of five acres of resilient corals at three locations across Oʻahu. We have existing in situ coral nurseries at South Shore and Kāneʻohe Bay. We will test best practices for incorporating community effort into coral restoration at Maunalua Bay.
Plan
We will out-plant a total of five acres of resilient corals at three locations across Oʻahu. We have existing in situ coral nurseries at South Shore and Kāneʻohe Bay. We will test best practices for incorporating community effort into coral restoration at Maunalua Bay.
Methods We Have Used to Investigate Coral Resilience Include:
- "Living Library"
- Tagging colonies that did not bleach during a warming event.
- Stress Testing
- Exposing fragments from unique individuals to temperature stress and selecting those that are more resistant to bleaching.
- Genetic Markers
- Determining whether a coral is more likely to bleach or not at the molecular level.
- Hyperspectral Imagery
- Mapping resilient corals using signatures from hyperspectral equipment or an in situ spectrophotometer
Corals of opportunity that have broken off from the reef will be the preferred material to support large-scale efforts. When accessing new locations, stress testing can be used to identify more resilient corals. When a "living library" is available, we can use corals with a known bleaching history in restoration efforts. We are still fine-tuning genetic markers and investigating the source of hyperspectral imagery signatures, but this will have a great impact on our ability to scale-up.
Identifying Resilience
Methods We Have Used to Investigate Coral Resilience Include:
- "Living Library"
- Tagging colonies that did not bleach during a warming event.
- Stress Testing
- Exposing fragments from unique individuals to temperature stress and selecting those that are more resistant to bleaching.
- Genetic Markers
- Determining whether a coral is more likely to bleach or not at the molecular level.
- Hyperspectral Imagery
- Mapping resilient corals using signatures from hyperspectral equipment or an in situ spectrophotometer
Corals of opportunity that have broken off from the reef will be the preferred material to support large-scale efforts. When accessing new locations, stress testing can be used to identify more resilient corals. When a "living library" is available, we can use corals with a known bleaching history in restoration efforts. We are still fine-tuning genetic markers and investigating the source of hyperspectral imagery signatures, but this will have a great impact on our ability to scale-up.
Out-planted corals will continue to grow and reproduce naturally, further enhancing resilience. We anticipate a model for effective natural coastal protection for communities, fish and wildlife with best practices that can be scaled up across the State of Hawaiʻi for greatest impact.
Outcomes
Out-planted corals will continue to grow and reproduce naturally, further enhancing resilience. We anticipate a model for effective natural coastal protection for communities, fish and wildlife with best practices that can be scaled up across the State of Hawaiʻi for greatest impact.
This community approach only works if people like YOU participate! Let's work together to protect our coral reefs.
Community Effort
This community approach only works if people like YOU participate! Let's work together to protect our coral reefs.
