Cracking the Coral Code

Preparing the Environment: Climate Special Part 1  In part 1 of our climate special, we revisit our oceans to look at the rocky atolls and reefs that are home to colourful world builders, coral!Since the 1950’s the planet has lost half of its coral reefs due to degradation. With ocean temperatures rising and harmful environmental and human activities, how can we better protect essential ecosystems for communities and marine life alike?Dr. Kaylee Byers sits down with Dr. Shayle Matsuda, a marine biologist looking into the effects of environmental stresses on coral reefs due to the climate crisis. And with the aid of genomic sequencing, Shayle wonders if we can utilize a clever symbiotic relationship found on these fascinating organisms to cultivate greater reef resilience into the future. Next, meet Ben Williams from the University of Exeter, who shares a unique acoustic invention to help restore reefs in Indonesia. And finally, researcher Madelyn Jones takes us through her work on the British Columbia coast to replenish the spiralling towers we call "kelp forests."Click here for this episode's Learn-A-Long! Resources:1. The sound of recovery: Coral reef restoration success is detectable in the soundscape | British Ecological Society2. Vital Signs: Ocean Warming | NASA3. The Planet Has Lost Half of Its Coral Reefs Since 1950 | Smithsonian4. Coral Reefs Could All Die Off by 2050 | EcoWatch5. ‘Dire outlook’: scientists say Florida reefs have lost nearly 98% of coral | The Guardian6. Report: Florida's Coral Reefs Among Most Damaged In U.S. | CBS Local News7. HydroMoth: Testing a prototype low-cost acoustic recorder for aquatic environments | ZSL8. What is a kelp forest? | National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration9. Canada’s kelp forests are at risk. A seaweed farmer is trying to save them | CBC Creator Network10. Months after mass die-off of sea creatures in B.C. heat dome, researchers return in search of signs of life | CBC News11. Coral Bleaching Susceptibility Is Predictive of Subsequent Mortality Within but Not Between Coral Species | Frontiers12. Larval thermal conditioning does not improve post-settlement thermal tolerance in the dominant reef-building coral, Montipora capitata | Springer13. Genome-powered classification of microbial eukaryotes: focus on coral algal symbionts | Science Direct12. Do Coral Reefs Produce Oxygen? | Techie Scientist14. What is coral spawning? | National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration15. Myth 5 - Genomics Can't Help Climate Change | Genome British ColumbiaSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.