Christian R. Voolstra

3 weeks ago | nature.com | Christian R. Voolstra |Emma F. Camp

AbstractCoral bleaching is a widespread stress response of reef-building corals to elevated sea temperatures, resulting in the loss of symbiotic algae and often leading to coral death and reef degradation. Although coral bleaching occurs globally, not all reefs, species, colonies, or polyps bleach equally. Understanding intra-colony bleaching heterogeneity is crucial to anticipate the extent of coral loss at 2°C warming and harness variability to inform restorative interventions.

Nov 29, 2024 | nature.com | Raquel Peixoto |Christian R. Voolstra |Iliana B. Baums |Emma F. Camp |Peter Harrison |F. Joseph Pollock | +4 more

Recent discussions have raised concerns about the long-term effectiveness of coral reef restoration efforts, questioning whether current interventions can effectively address the ongoing loss of reef ecosystems. However, details matter and vary greatly with respect to scale, social context and benefits, and diverse approaches are needed to maintain functional coral reef ecosystems.

Nov 13, 2024 | journals.plos.org | Christian R. Voolstra

Coral bleaching triggered by ocean warming is decimating coral reefs globally [1]. These iconic ecosystems are marine biodiversity hotspots and support the livelihood of close to a billion people [2]. The importance of coral reefs highlights the urgent need to elucidate the mechanisms behind coral bleaching, accelerating the development of strategies to mitigate the effects of thermal stress [3,4].

Nov 11, 2024 | nature.com | Raquel Peixoto |Christian R. Voolstra |Lisa Stein |Philip Hugenholtz |Joana Falcao Salles |Max Häggblom | +12 more

This paper is a call to action. By publishing concurrently across journals like an emergency bulletin, we are not merely making a plea for awareness about climate change. Instead, we are demanding immediate, tangible steps that harness the power of microbiology and the expertise of researchers and policymakers to safeguard the planet for future generations.