Scientists have developed a novel tool designed to protect and protect coral reefs by providing abundant feeding opportunities for coral reefs.
Called the Underwater Zootopop Enhanced Light Array (Uzela), the device is an autonomous, programmable underwater light that attracts coral microscopic organisms in nearby zooplankton.
Within six months, diving was tested on two corals native to Hawaii and found that Uzera could greatly increase local zooplankton density and increase feeding rates for healthy and bleached corals. It is important to provide more food for corals, making them stronger and more likely to resist certain environmental threats, such as Heat stress or ocean acidification.
The results are impressive, especially when ocean temperatures rise Andrea Grottoli, Lead author and professor of the study Earth Science at Ohio State University.
“Reefs have one third of all marine species, but they account for less than 1 percent of the land,” she said. “They are disproportionately responsible for marine health and we are at risk of losing them.”
The study was recently published in the Journal of Amniotics and Oceanography: Methods.
Millions of humans rely on coral reefs as they support the fishing industry and protect coastline communities from dangers such as erosion and flooding. Unfortunately, many climate models predict that these important coral reefs may be completely destroyed by 2050, jeopardizing the complex ecosystems they maintain.
Although the technology in this study is only a short-term solution to the environmental threats facing coral reefs, the device may be very beneficial for coral recovery efforts, Grottoli said. “Think of it as a band-aid for about a few decades,” she said. “Sometimes some corals can be protected in certain places.”
The team also found that Uzela, which can be powered on a single battery for half a year, can optimize the feeding time of the coral by just one hour after dusk.
It is understandable that artificial lights can Vandalism Among other marine animals, researchers can choose not to use the device year-round. That being said, the study highlights that typing zooplankton, contrary to this artificial tool, does not seem to harm the environment or disrupt the flow of other surrounding zooplankton.
“If you imagine floating in a cylinder above the coral, rather than spreading naturally, Uzera just pulled them down, but it didn’t take it away from the coral,” Grotori said. “We show that if You bring corals closer to the light and they benefit from concentrated zooplankton, and the feeding rate increases by 10 to 50 times.”
This figure corresponds to an increase in metabolic demand that Zooplankton alone can meet by 18-68%, meaning that increased feeding helps replenish a large portion of the coral diet, which successfully leads to an increase in coral survival and durability.
“The real purpose of the project is to inject new technologies and energy into corals and restore them successfully,” Grottoli said. “This is something that can be strategically deployed for high-value reefs or projects that have already invested heavily in it.”
Uzela can also be widely adapted to a variety of marine environments, and can also be easily served by divers once placed in the best underwater location.
It is worth noting that while the current generation of Uzelas is handmade, the team is working with an Ohio-based engineering company to redesign the technology to make it more manufacturing. Grottoli expects these more enhanced versions to be available in the next one to three years.
“We are not mitigating climate change quickly enough to save corals and Uzera will not save coral reefs immediately,” she said. “But it is an exciting solution that will be a more sustainable environment in our efforts to achieve. Time provides us with time.”
Other co-authors include Shannon Dixon and Ann Marie Hulver from Ohio State University, as well as Claire Bardin, Claire Lewis, Christopher Suckocki and Rob Toonen, the University of Hawaii and the Institute of Marine Biology in Manoa.
The study was supported by the University of Hawaii Foundation, the National Science Foundation and the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency.
If you find this piece useful, consider supporting our work with a one-time or monthly donation. Your contribution allows us to continue to bring you accurate, thought-provoking scientific and medical news that you can trust. Independent reporting requires time, effort, and resources, and your support makes it possible for us to continue exploring stories that are important to you. Together, we can ensure that important discoveries and developments attract those who need them the most.
