Research finds understanding how far coral larvae travels could help to protect Great Barrier Reef populations
New research from the University of Queensland (UQ) aims to better understand the diversity of reef populations and connectivity of coral species — helping to improve resilience.
Over a 12-month period, samples of two species of coral were taken and studied from a region stretching from Flinders Reef, near Moreton Island, up to the Torres Strait, taking in the Great Barrier Reef.
Lead researcher Zoe Meziere said the data collected helped to paint a picture of the history of two of the most abundant species of coral.
"I sampled really small fragments of corals from the reefs and brought them back to the lab to sequence the DNA," she said.
"From there, we can infer events that have happened in the history of these coral populations and quantify how diverse populations are and how connected corals are as well.
For this study, funded by the partnership between the federal government's Reef Trust and the Great Barrier Reef Foundation, Ms Meziere compared two coral species with very different reproductive modes.
The larvae of Stylophora pistillata, a brooding coral species where eggs are fertilised internally before being released, travelled between 23 and 102 metres before beginning to grow on the sea floor.
While the spawning Popillopora verrucosa coral — that sees larvae develop in the water after the mass release of eggs and sperm — were found to disperse up to 52 kilometres away.
Ms Meziere said measuring the different distances coral larvae may travel can help to protect ocean habitats.
"Genetic diversity is important for reef resilience. The more diverse the population is, the more adaptive potential it has, so it's more likely to bounce back after disturbance," she said.
"With spawning larvae able to disperse across tens of kilometres, they could cross to other reefs."
That means, in the event a reef was completely decimated, there's potential larvae coming from another reef could help to repopulate it.
"For brooding corals that cannot disperse very far away, we probably need to have more local conservation planning, so I think that's going to be a key thing going into the future," she said.
Across the large geographic area of focus, the UQ research creates a benchmark understanding that Ms Meziere said could be broadened to other species.
"There's been a bit of research [on the Great Barrier Reef] for fish, but for corals, we really didn't have a good understanding," she said.
"This is the first study of its kind looking at connectivity in a very holistic kind of way and quantifying those connectivity patterns."
The research can be used to inform stakeholders and improve in conservation efforts.
"We really need to better understand the biology of the species to better plan for conservation and restoration… this study helps that," Ms Meziere said.
"Essentially, we're saying those efforts need to be tailored… and suited to different species. That's the main takeaway.
Tanya Murphy, a community campaigner for the Great Barrier Reef with the Australian Marine Conservation Society (AMCS), said she was pleased more work was being done to understand how reefs could be more resilient.
"AMCS is all about following the science, so studies like this really help to give us a better and better picture of how the reef regenerates," she said.
"All of that science together helps to better inform things like emergency response plans… it's all part of the puzzle."
The research has been published in peer-reviewed journal Science Advances.
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