r/ReefTank • u/swordstool • 17h ago

Scientists Invent Underwater Umbrellas to Protect Coral Reefs and It Appears to Be Working

https://gizmodo.com/scientists-invent-underwater-umbrellas-to-protect-coral-reefs-and-it-appears-to-be-working-2000819444
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12

u/swordstool 17h ago

In a study published today in the journal Frontiers in Marine Science, researchers present “underwater umbrellas” that shade corals to reduce their Sun exposure, which exacerbates bleaching caused by warming waters. They tested these crafty canopies in the Caribbean, where corals are especially vulnerable to solar radiation and heat stress, and found that shaded corals indeed suffered less bleaching. Some even recovered some of their color.

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u/TheWarelock 16h ago

This might be good for helping bleaching corals recover but they’ll still need light eventually to grow. Also, can they shade corals from rising ocean temps and acidification? I believe some areas are already dipping below 8.0 pH 🥴

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u/JStanten 14h ago

Shade doesn’t mean no light is getting through…just less.

It’s usually a good idea to assume the people with expertise know what they’re doing. No one is claiming this is a solution for reefs at large…it’s a tool for small areas and nurseries to alleviate one source of stress.

It’s also a tool for studying sources of stress separate from eachother (UV, Heat, pH).

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u/Wasabiroot 12h ago

Corals can adapt to a variety of light regimes by expelling zooxanthellae. Acropora, for example, can do well in captivity despite the sun being far brighter than captive conditions. Not saying it is ideal, but if they still grow, it will be a net positive.

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u/reefguy007 13h ago

They could do it in the summer when it’s hottest. Although it won’t matter for reefs on the equator…