Newly Discovered Algae May Help Corals Survive Hottest Reefs on the Planet

There may be a type of algae that could help coral reefs cope with warmer temperatures. Researchers have discovered a species of algae in the reef corals of the Persian Gulf that helps corals survive seawater temperatures of up to 36 degrees Celsius, temperatures that would kill corals elsewhere.

The researchers journeyed to Abu Dhabi where they studied the world's warmest coral reef habitat. Reefs are made up of many coral species, most of which live in a mutually beneficial relationship with microscopically small algae hosted in their tissues. These algae contribute to the diet of the coral in return for shelter and nutrients. However, warmer temperatures can cause coral to lose their algae and results in "coral bleaching."

In order to understand why the corals near Abu Dhabi could survive warmer temperatures, the scientists monitored the corals there and examined their algae. Surprisingly, they found a new species of algae.

"We found that commonly applied molecular methods did not give enough resolution to distinguish the dominant symbionts of Gulf corals from those in other parts of the world's oceans," said Jorg Wiedenmann, one of the researchers, in a news release. "However, when analyzed by alternative molecular biological approaches, we found pronounced differences that set this heat tolerant species clearly aside. We named it Symbiodinium thermophilum in reference to its ability to survive unusual high temperatures."

The scientists monitored the symbiotic partnership over several seasons to ensure that the relationship was stable. They found that the algae existed year round in several coral species.

"It gives us hope that corals have more ways to adjust to stressful environmental conditions that we had previously thought," said Wiedenmann. "However, it is not only heat that troubles coral reefs. Pollution and nutrient enrichment, overfishing and coastal development also represent severe threats to their survival. Only if we manage to reduce these different forms of stress will corals be able to benefit from their capacity to adjust to climate change."

The findings are published in the journal Scientific Reports.

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