A coral with special properties!

 Scientists Discover Coral That Can Recover from Bleaching in Record Time

Marine biologists working in the Great Barrier Reef have identified a previously unknown species of coral capable of recovering from bleaching events significantly faster than any other documented species. The research, published in Current Biology, details how this coral can rebuild its symbiotic relationship with algae in as little as two weeks.

Most corals rely on microscopic algae called zooxanthellae for energy through photosynthesis. When ocean temperatures rise or other stressors occur, corals expel these algae, leading to the white, weakened appearance known as bleaching. Recovery, if it happens at all, usually takes months or even years.

However, the newly discovered coral, provisionally named Acropora resurgens, appears to have evolved a more dynamic symbiotic system. Scientists observed that this coral recruits and reestablishes symbiosis with a wider variety of algal strains, giving it a rapid recovery edge.

The coral was found in a relatively isolated part of the northern reef system, where water temperatures fluctuate more dramatically than in other regions. Researchers believe these conditions may have driven the evolution of this rapid-recovery trait.

If this trait can be understood at a genetic level, it could have far-reaching implications for coral conservation and reef restoration. Some researchers are already considering ways to incorporate this resilience into coral breeding and replanting efforts aimed at protecting global reef ecosystems under climate pressure.

This discovery adds to a growing body of evidence that nature may be evolving new defense mechanisms faster than previously thought, offering cautious optimism in the face of ongoing environmental challenges.

Sources

https://www.cell.com/current-biology/fulltext/S0960-9822(25)00476-9

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-06-12/rapid-recovery-coral-great-barrier-reef-science/103264340

https://www.gbrmpa.gov.au/news/2025/fast-healing-coral-hope-for-reef