Cryophysiology of coral microfragments: effects of chilling and cryoprotectant toxicity.

ABSTRACT: Coral reefs are being degraded at alarming rates and decisive intervention actions are urgently needed. One such intervention is coral cryopreservation. Although the cryopreservation of coral sperm and larvae has been achieved, preservation of coral fragments including both its tissue and skeleton, has not. The overarching aim of this study was to understand and assess the physiological stressors that might underlie coral fragment cryopreservation, understand the long-term consequences of these exposures to continued growth, and develop a health metrics scale for future research. Therefore, we assessed small fragments (~1 cm²) from the Hawaiian coral, Porites compressa, examining: (1) chill sensitivity; (2) chemical sensitivity to complex cryoprotectants; (3) methods to s

SUBMITTER: Lager CVA 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11562774 | biostudies-literature | 2024

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature