Mote Marine Laboratory’s International Coral Gene Bank (Gene Bank) has recently achieved significant milestones in coral restoration and marine conservation, paving the way for a more promising future for coral reefs in Florida and around the world.
Some of these achievements include:
- Advancing Cryopreservation Technology: Integrating cutting-edge methods to enhance and preserve biodiversity by creating genetic “time capsules” for coral species, ensuring their survival and resilience.
- Restoring Coral Communities: Partnering with NOAA and the Department of Interior to develop and test methods to restore mesophotic and deep benthic coral habitats injured in the Gulf of America (Gulf) by the 2010 Deepwater Horizon oil spill.
- Preserving Endangered Coral Survivors: Collaborating with Shedd Aquarium, The Reef Institute, and the University of Miami to safeguard genetic material from the last known staghorn coral survivors in the Dry Tortugas following Florida’s record-breaking 2023 thermal event.
- Securing DEP Funding: Receiving support from the Florida Department of Environmental Protection to expand infrastructure and capabilities for coral restoration and conservation.
These combined efforts showcase Mote’s holistic approach to marine conservation, addressing immediate restoration needs while ensuring the long-term enhancement and protection of biodiversity through innovative science.
Coral reefs are facing unprecedented die-offs on a global scale, making it essential to restore them with resilient, genetically diverse corals that have the best chances of surviving and reproducing. However, this effort hinges on the survival of our native corals, which must be safeguarded before they disappear. Mote plays a critical role in preserving the genetic diversity of coral reefs and other marine life, ensuring their survival in the face of escalating threats like thermal events, ocean acidification, and disease. As a cornerstone of Florida’s Coral Reef Restoration and Recovery Initiative, the Gene Bank enables the propagation of resilient coral genotypes for future outplanting efforts.
Leveraging Cryopreservation Technology
Mote is one of the few institutions in the world leveraging cryopreservation technology to protect the future of coral reefs. This groundbreaking work began through specialized training in Hawaii with Dr. Mary Hagedorn of the Smithsonian Institute and has positioned Mote at the forefront of coral conservation with this pioneering approach.
Cryopreservation is a process which involves freezing coral sperm at ultra-low temperatures in an effort to create a genetic “time capsule” that theoretically preserves their viability indefinitely. This cutting-edge method is a game-changer for coral conservation, enabling the storage of genetic material from rare, vulnerable, or hard-to-propagate coral species. By banking these genetic resources, Mote ensures that future generations can benefit from the diversity of coral species, even if those species currently face near extinction.
Unlike traditional propagation methods, cryopreservation offers the potential to preserve and utilize coral genetic material across decades, or even centuries, allowing for the restoration of genetically diverse coral populations even if the wild populations have been lost.
This cutting-edge technology allows scientists to mix sperm and eggs (gametes) from corals that are geographically separated or reproduce at different times of the year. By doing this, they can increase the variety of genetic traits in coral populations. Greater genetic diversity makes these corals stronger and better equipped to adapt to both current and future changing conditions. This approach gives restored coral populations a better chance of long-term success.
“Preserving genetic diversity is fundamental to the resilience of marine ecosystems,” said Dr. Erinn Muller, Director of Mote’s International Coral Gene Bank and Associate Vice President for Research. “The Gene Bank is invaluable in our efforts to protect the future of coral reefs and other vital marine species.”
Mote joins NOAA and Partners in Studying Mesophotic and Deep Benthic Communities
Mote is collaborating with NOAA and the Department of Interior to work on the Coral Propagation Technique Development (CPT) project within the Mesophotic and Deep Benthic Communities (MDBC) restoration portfolio. The project is supported by over $28 million over eight years and represents a pioneering effort to directly restore MDBC habitats in the Gulf.
MDBC ecosystems are critical to ocean health, as they provide a home for an abundance of invertebrates, fish, and other marine life. When these ecosystems are harmed—like during the 2010 Deepwater Horizon (DWH) oil spill—it can cause a chain reaction, disrupting nearby environments. This happens because many marine species depend on the supply of larvae from these communities. These deep-sea habitats, similar to shallow coral reefs, act as refuges and collection points (“sinks”) for larvae released during spawning. If disrupted, these habitats could no longer support the settlement of larvae or provide critical resources to ecosystems further down-current. Such disruption could also affect genetic diversity and population dynamics, impacting not only MDBC but also the Gulf’s broader marine ecosystems.
By developing innovative methods for coral cultivation, recruitment, and transplantation, Mote aims to contribute to this project addressing critical knowledge gaps and help scale up restoration efforts to meet the magnitude of the injury caused by the DWH oil spill.
This project combines field testing in natural MDBC habitats and lab-based coral cultivation to develop effective propagation methods using innovative techniques like coral fragmentation and transplantation. It emphasizes collaborative planning, expert coordination, and long-term monitoring to enhance coral recruitment, survival, and sustainability.
As part of the CPT Team, Mote is holding 24 genotypes of the orange gorgonian sea fan Swiftia exserta and 6 genotypes of white eye sea spray (Thesea nivea), the two coral species most significantly affected by the DWH oil spill. Both species have already spawned at the Gene Bank producing hundreds of offspring that are currently being cared for by trained staff members. These offspring are now within a feeding experiment to assess the recruits’ growth, measured in both 2D and 3D formats. This study will also incorporate 3D photogrammetry to document their growth over time.
Collaborating with Shedd Aquarium to Preserve Coral Bleaching Survivors
Mote received living coral fragments from the last known staghorn coral survivors in the Dry Tortugas following Florida’s record-breaking 2023 bleaching, which were collected by Shedd Aquarium. Shedd scientists discovered and rescued the corals and transported fragments to Mote and other institutions across Florida. The arrival of these rare specimens at the Gene Bank is a pivotal step in preserving genetic diversity for this critically endangered species.
The staghorn coral fragments now reside alongside other genetically significant specimens within the Gene Bank, benefiting from advanced life support systems and expert care.
DEP Grant Supports Gene Bank and Coral Restoration Expansion
Mote has received funding from the Florida DEP to expand its critical role in coral restoration and conservation. This funding will support the construction of additional infrastructure, including advanced life support systems to enhance the Gene Bank’s capacity for holding and propagating genetic material from priority coral species such as mountainous star coral (Orbicella faveolata) and grooved brain coral (Diploria labyrinthiformis).
“At Mote Marine Laboratory, we believe that advancing the science of coral conservation is not only a commitment to protecting marine biodiversity, but also to ensuring the resilience of ecosystems that serve as the foundation for so many species,” said Dr. Michael P. Crosby, President & CEO of Mote Marine Laboratory. “The DEP funding will allow us to expand the capabilities of our Gene Bank, enhancing our ability to store and propagate vital coral genetic material, supporting restoration of Florida’s coral reefs, and contributing to a more sustainable future for our oceans.”
The recent milestones achieved by The International Coral Gene Bank reflect Mote Marine Laboratory’s ongoing dedication to advancing marine conservation through innovative science and collaborative efforts.