Corals rescued from the wild in the Florida Keys ahead of the spread of stony coral tissue loss disease are being carefully grown in aquariums at the Florida Coral Rescue Center in Orlando. This center, a partnership between SeaWorld Orlando, the Disney Conservation Initiative, and others, aims to protect genetic diversity and mimic the conditions of coral reefs in the Keys. Biologists at the center use an app on their cell phones to monitor water temperature and light levels in the aquarium tanks where the corals are grown. The lights are set to provide the same sunlight and moonlight as if the corals were still on the reef in Key West.
The center is just one of more than a dozen working to protect coral reefs as climate change causes ocean temperatures to rise and coral bleaching to occur. The goal is to ensure the survival and growth of these rescued corals to help restore and maintain the health of coral reefs in the region.
The efforts at the Florida Coral Rescue Center highlight the importance of conservation initiatives in protecting marine ecosystems. By rescuing corals and providing the ideal conditions for their growth, researchers and biologists are working to safeguard these important organisms and the biodiversity of coral reefs in the Florida Keys.
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