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Can coral microbes protect reefs from climate change?

Can coral microbes protect reefs from climate change?

Coral displayed in front of a blue backdrop.

Scientists are investigating the role microbiomes play in coral health, trying to identify those microbial traits that make coral reefs resilient as ocean temperatures rise and bleaching events accelerate. One group, the Global Coral Microbiome Project, led by OSU Microbiologist Dr. Rebecca Vega-Thurber is performing a global survey of reefs.