Imported from Underground Channel / 08:20 / POSTED 12.11.26

Ancient Coral Reefs

Coral reefs are among the most diverse ecosystems on Earth, but how have they responded to climate change in the past - and what can this tell us about their future in the current climate?

By extracting ancient DNA from coral cores taken from ancient reef terraces, Ana Prohaska is researching how coral reefs have evolved and adapted to changing climates over thousands of years. The core-collecting expedition consisted of two months at sea off the coast of Hawaii (with ECORD) followed by intensive subsampling at the Marum Institute in Bremen.

We learn why the coral reefs in Hawaii are particularly unique and how the project already has uncovered ancient DNA dating back as far as 30.000 years ago with much more to do and uncover.

Special thank you to Den Blå Planet (National Aquarium of Denmark) and Marley Parker at ECORD for sharing their material from the IODP 389 expedition.