Marine Biologists Mass-Produce Coral Larvae

By collecting eggs and sperm cells from spawning corals in a lab, scientists can produce large quantities of larvae. When the larvae are placed on a dying reef, new corals develop.

SCIENTISTS 1 COLLECT

30 colonies of 15-20- cm- large corals which are ready to spawn (orange and pink), placing them in separate basins.

THE CORALS SPAWN 2

at night, when scientists harvest large portions of egg and sperm cells. The coral larvae hatch in another basin.

LARVAE ARE PLACED 3

on the damaged reef. Nets protect the larvae for five days, until they have gained a proper foothold.

EIGHT MONTHS LATER, 4

the corals have reproduced. New microscopic corals have started to grow on the damaged reef.