Florida scientists bring endangered elkhorn coral ashore fearing another heatwave could drive it to extinction

Scientists in Florida have launched an emergency effort to protect one of the Caribbean's most important reef-building corals from disappearing altogether. Researchers at the University of Miami have transported 30 fragments of endangered elkhorn coral from underwater nurseries to a land-based hatchery, fearing that another intense marine heatwave this summer could trigger widespread coral bleaching. The move comes after successive heatwaves in 2023 and 2024 devastated Florida's coral reefs, leaving elkhorn coral functionally extinct across much of South Florida. By bringing the coral ashore, scientists hope to preserve its remaining genetic diversity until ocean conditions become safe enough for future restoration efforts.Florida scientists move endangered elkhorn coral ashore as heatwave threat grows The emergency relocation was carried out by researchers from the University of Miami, who have been cultivating endangered elkhorn coral in offshore nurseries for years. However, forecasts of unusually warm ocean temperatures this summer have raised fears that another severe bleaching event could destroy even these carefully managed populations.Marine biologist Diego Lirman, an assoc...