Reef Restoration and Adaptation Program

Using cutting-edge cryopreservation techniques, RRAP scientists from Taronga Conservation Society Australia have fertilised fresh coral eggs with frozen coral sperm during the 2024 annual coral spawning event. ❄️ Late last year, these tiny recruits were nurtured in the Australian Institute of Marine Science lab and placed onto the Reef on specially designed coral cradles. Researchers will monitor their growth over the critical first year. Read more via Great Barrier Reef Foundation 👇

"Australia is leading one of the world’s largest, collective research and development efforts to protect the Great Barrier Reef from the impacts of climate change." 🐟 🌏 Take a look at the latest feature on RRAP's heat tolerance investigations, from the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water 👇 #ReefTrust

Collaborating across reef ecology 🐠-> tech dev ⚙️-> social science 🤿. Deploying corals on predator-proof seeding devices are one of the ways RRAP teams, led by Australian Institute of Marine Science, are investigating the possibility of reef restoration at large scale 🔗👇 But what's it like to encounter a device as a Reef visitor? RRAP's social science research, through study led by CSIRO, has been on the case, surveying Reef visitors to better understand the impact that observing coral seeding devices, like those used in RRAP, might have on their reef experience 📰 👉 https://shorturl.at/OXXLj

“A must-read for all coral biologists, especially those involved in biological conservation.” 👀 Journal editors have highlighted newly published RRAP research revealing the hidden dimensions of coral biodiversity: https://lnkd.in/gFw8mzEj The team, led by RRAP's Ecological Intelligence for Reef Restoration and Enhanced Corals and Treatments programs, undertook a rigorous examination of population genomic studies of nominal (named) coral species and found that 68% of studies had evidence for cryptic genetic groups. The big takeaway? Failing to recognise cryptic genetic groups can bias biodiversity metrics and management, and impact coral breeding efforts for restoration.

Incredibly proud of the Reef Restoration and Adaptation Program team at #ReefFutures2024 in Mexico, the leading global conference in coral reef restoration. With several RRAP plenaries, presentations and posters, Australia's leadership and our multi-disciplinary collaborative approach was in full display! We showcased RRAP’s collective achievements, including: * critical research outcomes and future needs in the heat tolerance of corals * modelling of reef trajectories under different climate change scenarios and benefits of assisted adaptation * social research, community engagement and efforts to build capacity within Traditional Owner groups, industries and broader communities * intervention technologies, including conservation aquaculture, larval reseeding, marine cloud brightening and rubble stabilisation * advanced monitoring techniques, integrated experimental designs and methods to maximise return on investment and achieve scale. On the back of a fourth global mass bleaching event, and as coral reefs and their peoples face incredible challenges, it gives me hope to be part of a thriving community of practice with a strong sense of purpose. Line Bay @Pete Mumby Theresa Fyffe Stewart Lockie Jordan Ivey Renata Ferrari @Jon Daly @Carly Randall Mikaela Nordborg Gillian Paxton Daniel Harrison Luke Harrison Melissa Naugle Holland Elder @Corinne Allen Elizabeth Buccheri Arne Adam Dr Brett Lewis @Taylor Whitman Great Barrier Reef Foundation Australian Institute of Marine Science CSIRO James Cook University QUT (Queensland University of Technology) Southern Cross University The University of Queensland Taronga Conservation Society Australia Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water Coral Restoration Consortium

The annual coral spawning on the Great Barrier Reef is the height of activity for many of RRAP’s coral-centric research teams. Each year provides a narrow window of opportunity to optimise and improve how we harness this incredible natural phenomenon for the benefit of the Reef. Highlights from across the partnership during spawning 2024: 🐠 At Lizard Island the Moving Corals teams continued their research to optimise larval collection and delivery methods.  🐬 Capacity building projects launched in three new reef sites through the Pilot Deployments Program, for coral larvae collection and delivery methods: https://shorturl.at/K4TTq 🐟 The Indigenous Futures Project launched at Heron Island this year, empowering Traditional Owners with new ways to upscale RRAP interventions on their own sea Country: https://shorturl.at/jJh5u 🦘Qantas joined forces with the Great Barrier Reef Foundation to support RRAP R&D translation to on-Reef trials  🐡 The The National Sea Simulator (SeaSim) was abuzz with activity as teams worked to optimise coral conservation aquaculture systems 📷: Taronga Conservation Society Australia, Australian Institute of Marine Science, Great Barrier Reef Foundation

Excited and proud to see a diverse group of RRAP researchers take to the stage at #ReefFutures24 this week. From ecology to genetics, social science and engineering breakthroughs - we embrace the opportunity to share our learnings from here on Australia's Great Barrier Reef, for the benefit of all coral reef ecosystems. 🐟 🌏

What’s the maximum amount of coral cover that a reef can sustain? New research from RRAP’s Ecological Intelligence teams, led by Australian Institute of Marine Science, has quantified the relationship between this ‘upper limit’ (i.e., the highest coral cover that a reef can stabilize at) and key environmental factors. What they’ve found will improve restoration decision making – helping to optimise where and how much to restore a particular reef: ⬆️ Upper limits vary across the GBR, with a median of 33% coral cover and only 17% of the estimated upper limits exceeded 50% coral cover. 🧭 Upper limits increased towards the southern reefs. 🌡️ Upper limits increased with increasing hard substrate availability and decreased with temperature and, to a lesser extent, with water clarity. Read more here 👉 https://lnkd.in/gJrsk55h

Witnessing one of nature's most extraordinary events 🤩 This week, researchers had a front-row seat to one of the ocean's most breathtaking events in our facility. Under the gentle red lights, corals released their egg and sperm bundles, marking a vital step for future generations of corals. 🪸 Scientists meticulously collected these bundles, and the fertilized eggs are now in the process of developing into larvae. This incredible phenomenon is not only awe-inspiring but also crucial for reef restoration and ongoing research efforts. 🌊 The journey doesn’t end here. Stay tuned for updates on the critical research being carried out in our facility over the coming months. Discover more about our spawning research >> https://bit.ly/3Yk3ocd Check out some amazing behind-the-scenes photos of the teams in action! #CoralSpawning #SeaSim #Spawnathon2024 #MarineScience 📸: Thomas Real, Gemma Molinaro

A unique RRAP Collab is helping to build new culturally safe guidelines for the transfer and care of cryopreserved coral material. Read about this future best practice model via Taronga Conservation Society Australia here ❄️ 👇