New research on coral reefs, led by the University of Southampton, suggests that existing biodiversity will be essential for the successful adaptation of ecosystems to climate change.
About 25 per cent of all marine biodiversity depends on coral reefs. Climate change, in particular increasing seawater temperatures, threatens to disrupt the functionality of this productive association with potentially devastating knock-on effects to ecosystem services that are provided by coral reefs including food supply, coastal protection, attraction of tourists and access to biopharmaceuticals.
The Royal Society – Hands-on at the exhibit
- Use our blue LED torches and special filter goggles in a dark room and explore the fluorescence of corals, anemones and bio-engineered bacteria that produce glowing coral pigments.
- Learn about the value of fluorescence for habitat mapping by having a go at our game to spot and mark coral recruits in daylight and under fluorescence conditions
- Apply fluorescent face paint and explore what happens in our dark fluorescence room. Take a photo of yourself on our reef and send it to your friends!
Glowing Corals – Summer Science Exhibition 2017