Dick Dodge NCRI Seminar Series:

The Dick Dodge NCRI Seminar Series features presentations from leading researchers dedicated to the future of coral reefs and ocean ecosystems. In this session, we welcome Dr. John Parkinson, professor from the University of South Florida to discuss  a multi-year collaborative research effort centered on improving acroporid restoration success by uncovering the genetic and ecophysiological basis for coral heat tolerance traits. 

The Little Coral Science Project That Could: A Tale Of Covid, Extinction, And International Intrigue

Coral reefs are vital ecosystems threatened by climate change. For ~15 years, reef restoration in Florida has emphasized coral gardening--especially of acroporid species--to boost biomass and retain reef function. In 2023, an intense marine heatwave killed nearly all the natural and restored acroporid corals in the Florida Keys, highlighting the need for more effective restoration interventions.

This seminar summarizes a 6-year (and counting) project centered on improving acroporid restoration success by uncovering the genetic and ecophysiological basis for coral heat tolerance traits. Methods included extensive field work in the nursery networks of The Bahamas and Florida, aquarium-based stress trials, high-throughput phenotyping, population genetics, genome-wide association approaches, and a whole lot of optimism in the face of natural, technical, and bureaucratic setbacks.