Latest news with #TarongaConservationSocietyAustralia
IOL News
5 days ago
- Science
- IOL News
Coral frozen in time throws lifeline for Great Barrier Reef
This photo taken on May 29, 2025 shows Justine O'Brien, manager of conservation science at Taronga Conservation Society Australia, placing coral sperm samples in a cryo rack, filled with liquid nitrogen at a laboratory in Sydney. Rows of tanks filled with liquid nitrogen sit in temperature-controlled chambers in Sydney's Taronga Zoo, cradling parts of the Great Barrier Reef's diverse and magnificent corals frozen in time. This is the world's largest store of cryogenically frozen coral, a frosty Noah's Ark for an ecosystem that scientists warn could be the first to disappear if climate change is not combatted fast enough. Rows of tanks filled with liquid nitrogen sit in temperature-controlled chambers at Sydney's Taronga zoo, cradling parts of the Great Barrier Reef's diverse and magnificent corals frozen in time. The world's largest store of cryogenically frozen coral is a frosty Noah's Ark for an ecosystem that scientists warn could be the first to disappear if climate change is not combatted fast enough. Trillions of cells from dozens of key coral species on the Great Barrier Reef (GBR) - collected each year during mass spawning - offer the chance to regenerate damaged and diminished corals now and into the future. "Essentially, a pause button has been pressed on their biological clocks," said Justine O'Brien, manager of conservation science at Taronga Conservation Society Australia. "I hope our collective efforts can help to retain the reef's beautiful diversity," she said. Since the coral programme began in 2011, Taronga's CryoDiversity Bank has been intruding annually on the GBR's spawning, when corals send eggs and sperm into the waters for breeding. Scientists collect the sperm and mix it with cryoprotectants, which remove water as the samples freeze, and protect internal cell structures. Eggs contain too much water and fat to be frozen without damage using current techniques, so for now cannot be similarly banked, but other cells are also harvested and frozen for research. The samples are placed into liquid nitrogen and stored at -196 degrees Celsius. Strict measures ensure the temperature never changes. "We can keep them alive indefinitely," O'Brien said. "You could thaw them out a few years from now, a few decades from now or hundreds of years from now and they will have retained the same fertilising potential that existed when they were initially collected and frozen." So far the bank has 34 species of the approximately 400 kinds of hard corals on the GBR, prioritising those most essential to reef structure and function, with plans to expand. In addition to reproduction, the samples can be used for research and record-keeping, helping track the effects of warming seas, overfishing and pollution that threaten coral reefs globally. Scientists forecast that at 1.5 Celsius of warming, some 70 to 90 percent of the world's coral reefs could disappear - a disastrous prospect for people and the planet. Coral reefs support not just marine life but hundreds of millions of people living in coastal communities by providing food, protection from storms and livelihoods through fishing and tourism. Warming oceans cause coral to expel the algae that provides not just their characteristic colour but also their food. Once bleached, they are exposed to disease and death by starvation. A global coral bleaching event has been unfolding since 2023, spreading to 84 percent of the world's reefs, across the Pacific, Indian and Atlantic oceans. Live coral cover has halved since the 1950s due to climate change and environmental damage, the International Coral Reef Initiative, a global conservation partnership, said this year. Next week, nations will meet in France for a UN oceans summit where they will be under pressure to deliver action and much-needed funds to better protect the world's overexploited and polluted seas. But the third UN Ocean Conference may struggle to find global consensus and raise money given ongoing disagreements over deep-sea mining, plastic trash and overfishing. O'Brien warns the GBR is under pressure, despite the resilience it has already shown. "We know the frequency and severity of impacts that are now occurring are not giving the reef enough recovery time," she said. The cryobank, one of just a handful around the world, offers a glimmer of hope. Last year, Taronga and Australian Institute of Marine Science researchers successfully thawed frozen coral sperm to fertilise fresh eggs, producing viable coral larvae that were placed back onto the reef. It was a world-first for the GBR and preliminary surveys show the transplants have grown well. These efforts - part of a broader programme looking at everything from shading corals to transplanting more heat-tolerant varieties - are a "small part of the solution to the global coral reef crisis," said WWF-Australia's head of oceans Richard Leck. But he warned that more needs to be done to ensure the long-term survival of coral. "Reefs are incredibly resilient and they do bounce back remarkably quickly after major disturbances," he said. "There is certainly a window to get reefs through climate change, but it is clear that that window is closing." | AFP
RTÉ News
6 days ago
- Health
- RTÉ News
Coral frozen in time throws lifeline for Great Barrier Reef
Rows of tanks filled with liquid nitrogen sit in temperature-controlled chambers at Sydney's Taronga zoo, cradling parts of the Great Barrier Reef's diverse and magnificent corals frozen in time. The world's largest store of cryogenically frozen coral is a frosty Noah's Ark for an ecosystem that scientists warn could be the first to disappear if climate change is not combatted fast enough. Trillions of cells from dozens of key coral species on the Great Barrier Reef (GBR) - collected each year during mass spawning - offer the chance to regenerate damaged and diminished corals now and into the future. "Essentially, a pause button has been pressed on their biological clocks," said Justine O'Brien, manager of conservation science at Taronga Conservation Society Australia. "I hope our collective efforts can help to retain the reef's beautiful diversity," she said. Since the coral programme began in 2011, Taronga's CryoDiversity Bank has been intruding annually on the GBR's spawning, when corals send eggs and sperm into the waters for breeding. Scientists collect the sperm and mix it with cryoprotectants, which remove water as the samples freeze, and protect internal cell structures. Eggs contain too much water and fat to be frozen without damage using current techniques, so for now cannot be similarly banked, but other cells are also harvested and frozen for research. The samples are placed into liquid nitrogen and stored at -196 degrees Celsius (-320 Fahrenheit). Strict measures ensure the temperature never changes. "We can keep them alive indefinitely," O'Brien said. "You could thaw them out a few years from now, a few decades from now or hundreds of years from now and they will have retained the same fertilising potential that existed when they were initially collected and frozen." Coral disease, death So far the bank has 34 species of the approximately 400 kinds of hard corals on the GBR, prioritising those most essential to reef structure and function, with plans to expand. In addition to reproduction, the samples can be used for research and record-keeping, helping track the effects of warming seas, overfishing and pollution that threaten coral reefs globally. Scientists forecast that at 1.5 Celsius (34.7 Fahrenheit) of warming, some 70% to 90% of the world's coral reefs could disappear - a disastrous prospect for people and the planet. Coral reefs support not just marine life but hundreds of millions of people living in coastal communities by providing food, protection from storms and livelihoods through fishing and tourism. Warming oceans cause coral to expel the algae that provides not just their characteristic colour but also their food. Once bleached, they are exposed to disease and death by starvation. A global coral bleaching event has been unfolding since 2023, spreading to 84% of the world's reefs, across the Pacific, Indian and Atlantic oceans. Live coral cover has halved since the 1950s due to climate change and environmental damage, the International Coral Reef Initiative, a global conservation partnership, said this year. Next week, nations will meet in France for a UN oceans summit where they will be under pressure to deliver action and much-needed funds to better protect the world's overexploited and polluted seas. But the third UN Ocean Conference may struggle to find global consensus and raise money given ongoing disagreements over deep-sea mining, plastic trash and overfishing. 'Window closing' O'Brien warns the GBR is under pressure, despite the resilience it has already shown. "We know the frequency and severity of impacts that are now occurring are not giving the reef enough recovery time," she said. The cryobank, one of just a handful around the world, offers a glimmer of hope. Last year, Taronga and Australian Institute of Marine Science researchers successfully thawed frozen coral sperm to fertilise fresh eggs, producing viable coral larvae that were placed back onto the reef. It was a world-first for the GBR and preliminary surveys show the transplants have grown well. These efforts - part of a broader programme looking at everything from shading corals to transplanting more heat-tolerant varieties - are a "small part of the solution to the global coral reef crisis," said WWF-Australia's head of oceans Richard Leck. But he warned that more needs to be done to ensure the long-term survival of coral. "Reefs are incredibly resilient and they do bounce back remarkably quickly after major disturbances," he said.
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Health
- Yahoo
Coral frozen in time throws lifeline for Great Barrier Reef
Rows of tanks filled with liquid nitrogen sit in temperature-controlled chambers at Sydney's Taronga zoo, cradling parts of the Great Barrier Reef's diverse and magnificent corals frozen in time. The world's largest store of cryogenically frozen coral is a frosty Noah's Ark for an ecosystem that scientists warn could be the first to disappear if climate change is not combatted fast enough. Trillions of cells from dozens of key coral species on the Great Barrier Reef (GBR) -— collected each year during mass spawning -- offer the chance to regenerate damaged and diminished corals now and into the future. "Essentially, a pause button has been pressed on their biological clocks," said Justine O'Brien, manager of conservation science at Taronga Conservation Society Australia. "I hope our collective efforts can help to retain the reef's beautiful diversity," she told AFP. Since the coral programme began in 2011, Taronga's CryoDiversity Bank has been intruding annually on the GBR's spawning, when corals send eggs and sperm into the waters for breeding. Scientists collect the sperm and mix it with cryoprotectants, which remove water as the samples freeze, and protect internal cell structures. Eggs contain too much water and fat to be frozen without damage using current techniques, so for now cannot be similarly banked, but other cells are also harvested and frozen for research. The samples are placed into liquid nitrogen and stored at -196 degrees Celsius (-320 Fahrenheit). Strict measures ensure the temperature never changes. "We can keep them alive indefinitely," O'Brien said. "You could thaw them out a few years from now, a few decades from now or hundreds of years from now and they will have retained the same fertilising potential that existed when they were initially collected and frozen." - Coral disease, death - So far the bank has 34 species of the approximately 400 kinds of hard corals on the GBR, prioritising those most essential to reef structure and function, with plans to expand. In addition to reproduction, the samples can be used for research and record-keeping, helping track the effects of warming seas, overfishing and pollution that threaten coral reefs globally. Scientists forecast that at 1.5 Celsius (34.7 Fahrenheit) of warming, some 70 to 90 percent of the world's coral reefs could disappear -- a disastrous prospect for people and the planet. Coral reefs support not just marine life but hundreds of millions of people living in coastal communities by providing food, protection from storms and livelihoods through fishing and tourism. Warming oceans cause coral to expel the algae that provides not just their characteristic colour but also their food. Once bleached, they are exposed to disease and death by starvation. A global coral bleaching event has been unfolding since 2023, spreading to 84 percent of the world's reefs, across the Pacific, Indian and Atlantic oceans. Live coral cover has halved since the 1950s due to climate change and environmental damage, the International Coral Reef Initiative, a global conservation partnership, said this year. Next week, nations will meet in France for a UN oceans summit where they will be under pressure to deliver action and much-needed funds to better protect the world's overexploited and polluted seas. But the third UN Ocean Conference may struggle to find global consensus and raise money given ongoing disagreements over deep-sea mining, plastic trash and overfishing. - 'Window closing' - O'Brien warns the GBR is under pressure, despite the resilience it has already shown. "We know the frequency and severity of impacts that are now occurring are not giving the reef enough recovery time," she said. The cryobank, one of just a handful around the world, offers a glimmer of hope. Last year, Taronga and Australian Institute of Marine Science researchers successfully thawed frozen coral sperm to fertilise fresh eggs, producing viable coral larvae that were placed back onto the reef. It was a world-first for the GBR and preliminary surveys show the transplants have grown well. These efforts -- part of a broader programme looking at everything from shading corals to transplanting more heat-tolerant varieties -- are a "small part of the solution to the global coral reef crisis," said WWF-Australia's head of oceans Richard Leck. But he warned that more needs to be done to ensure the long-term survival of coral. "Reefs are incredibly resilient and they do bounce back remarkably quickly after major disturbances," he told AFP. "There is certainly a window to get reefs through climate change, but it is clear that that window is closing." lec/sah/cms
France 24
6 days ago
- Health
- France 24
Coral frozen in time throws lifeline for Great Barrier Reef
The world's largest store of cryogenically frozen coral is a frosty Noah's Ark for an ecosystem that scientists warn could be the first to disappear if climate change is not combatted fast enough. Trillions of cells from dozens of key coral species on the Great Barrier Reef (GBR) -— collected each year during mass spawning -- offer the chance to regenerate damaged and diminished corals now and into the future. "Essentially, a pause button has been pressed on their biological clocks," said Justine O'Brien, manager of conservation science at Taronga Conservation Society Australia. "I hope our collective efforts can help to retain the reef's beautiful diversity," she told AFP. Since the coral programme began in 2011, Taronga's CryoDiversity Bank has been intruding annually on the GBR's spawning, when corals send eggs and sperm into the waters for breeding. Scientists collect the sperm and mix it with cryoprotectants, which remove water as the samples freeze, and protect internal cell structures. Eggs contain too much water and fat to be frozen without damage using current techniques, so for now cannot be similarly banked, but other cells are also harvested and frozen for research. The samples are placed into liquid nitrogen and stored at -196 degrees Celsius (-320 Fahrenheit). Strict measures ensure the temperature never changes. "We can keep them alive indefinitely," O'Brien said. "You could thaw them out a few years from now, a few decades from now or hundreds of years from now and they will have retained the same fertilising potential that existed when they were initially collected and frozen." Coral disease, death So far the bank has 34 species of the approximately 400 kinds of hard corals on the GBR, prioritising those most essential to reef structure and function, with plans to expand. In addition to reproduction, the samples can be used for research and record-keeping, helping track the effects of warming seas, overfishing and pollution that threaten coral reefs globally. Scientists forecast that at 1.5 Celsius (34.7 Fahrenheit) of warming, some 70 to 90 percent of the world's coral reefs could disappear -- a disastrous prospect for people and the planet. Coral reefs support not just marine life but hundreds of millions of people living in coastal communities by providing food, protection from storms and livelihoods through fishing and tourism. Warming oceans cause coral to expel the algae that provides not just their characteristic colour but also their food. Once bleached, they are exposed to disease and death by starvation. A global coral bleaching event has been unfolding since 2023, spreading to 84 percent of the world's reefs, across the Pacific, Indian and Atlantic oceans. Live coral cover has halved since the 1950s due to climate change and environmental damage, the International Coral Reef Initiative, a global conservation partnership, said this year. Next week, nations will meet in France for a UN oceans summit where they will be under pressure to deliver action and much-needed funds to better protect the world's overexploited and polluted seas. But the third UN Ocean Conference may struggle to find global consensus and raise money given ongoing disagreements over deep-sea mining, plastic trash and overfishing. 'Window closing' O'Brien warns the GBR is under pressure, despite the resilience it has already shown. "We know the frequency and severity of impacts that are now occurring are not giving the reef enough recovery time," she said. The cryobank, one of just a handful around the world, offers a glimmer of hope. Last year, Taronga and Australian Institute of Marine Science researchers successfully thawed frozen coral sperm to fertilise fresh eggs, producing viable coral larvae that were placed back onto the reef. It was a world-first for the GBR and preliminary surveys show the transplants have grown well. These efforts -- part of a broader programme looking at everything from shading corals to transplanting more heat-tolerant varieties -- are a "small part of the solution to the global coral reef crisis," said WWF-Australia's head of oceans Richard Leck. But he warned that more needs to be done to ensure the long-term survival of coral. "Reefs are incredibly resilient and they do bounce back remarkably quickly after major disturbances," he told AFP.
Scoop
22-05-2025
- General
- Scoop
Critically Endangered Turtle Gets A Leg Up!
Press Release – Symbio Wildlife Park World Turtle Day is a moment to not only raise awareness of the threats facing turtles globally but to also celebrate the progress being made right here in our own backyard, said Jarrad Prangell, Head of Conservation at Symbio Wildlife Park. As World Turtle Day approaches on May 23, Symbio Wildlife Park is celebrating the incredible strides being made in the conservation of one of Australia's most endangered reptiles – the Bellinger River Snapping Turtle (Myuchelys georgesi). Once on the brink of extinction following a devastating outbreak of the Bellinger River Virus (BRV) in 2015 that wiped out up to 90% of the wild population in just six weeks, the future of this unique freshwater turtle looked grim. But thanks to a powerful collaboration between government, zoos, conservationists, and local communities, there is now renewed hope for this species in the wild. Joining the NSW Government's Saving our Species (SOS) emergency response in 2017, Symbio Wildlife Park became one of only two institutions in Australia entrusted with a captive breeding programme for this critically endangered species. Since then, Symbio has built a dedicated quarantine and breeding facility and currently houses 26 turtles, 7 of which were born into the program. These turtles are key to creating a genetically diverse insurance population. 'World Turtle Day is a moment to not only raise awareness of the threats facing turtles globally but to also celebrate the progress being made right here in our own backyard,' said Jarrad Prangell, Head of Conservation at Symbio Wildlife Park. 'The survival of the Bellinger River Snapping Turtle is a team effort, and we're incredibly proud to be part of it.' Together with partners including NSW Government's Saving our Species program and Taronga Conservation Society Australia, Symbio is contributing to a national recovery plan backed by the Australian Government's Threatened Species Action Plan, which has invested over $850,000 into protecting this species. To date, over 170 captive-bred juvenile turtles have been released into the wild under the SOS program, with ongoing monitoring providing essential data on their health, survival, and adaptation to their natural habitat. Each year, Symbio's expert conservation team joins in field surveys along the Bellinger River, working alongside ecologists, veterinarians, and landholders to support both the species and the river ecosystem. Celebrating days like World Turtle Day is vital because it reminds us of the urgent need to protect our planet's most vulnerable species. It's an opportunity to raise awareness, spark meaningful conversations, and inspire collective action for wildlife conservation. By highlighting the challenges and successes of species like the Bellinger River Snapping Turtle, we not only educate and engage the public but also foster a deeper connection to the natural world!
