Great Barrier Reef: The promise of science

Some corals are beating the odds in a tank simulating hostile sea conditions expected more than 80 years later

Coral genetic specialist Line Bay with surviving juvenile branching corals in other 2100 tanks, where the parents were not able to cope. Their tiny coral larvae settle on the special circular tiles and grow into adults over several years. Dr Neal Can
Dr Neal Cantin, a coral scientist at the Australian Institute of Marine Science, with a tank of corals containing water simulating conditions in the year 2100, where ocean temperatures are at least 2 deg C warmer than pre-industrial times, carbon dioxide levels in the atmosphere are more than double current levels and the oceans are much more acidic. ST PHOTO: MARK CHEONG
Coral genetic specialist Line Bay with surviving juvenile branching corals in other 2100 tanks, where the parents were not able to cope. Their tiny coral larvae settle on the special circular tiles and grow into adults over several years. Dr Neal Can
Coral genetic specialist Line Bay with surviving juvenile branching corals in other 2100 tanks, where the parents were not able to cope. Their tiny coral larvae settle on the special circular tiles and grow into adults over several years. ST PHOTO: MARK CHEONG
David Fogarty Assistant Foreign Editor  
Updated
Oct 21, 2018, 02:51 PM
Published
Oct 21, 2018, 05:00 AM
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In the bubbling fish tank marked "2100", rows of individual young corals stretch tiny arms towards the artificial light.

Some look sickly, some are bleached a ghostly white, while others are growing remarkably well despite the hostile conditions.

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A version of this article appeared in the print edition of The Sunday Times on October 21, 2018, with the headline Great Barrier Reef: The promise of science. Subscribe

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