A Keuka College biology professor has helped develop a new approach to coral reef restoration that researchers say could significantly improve the survival of young corals in oceans increasingly threatened by climate change and acidification.
Melissa Ruszczyk, an assistant professor of biology at Keuka College, led a study that found a specially designed cement tile can increase baby coral survival rates by as much as 400% by altering the chemistry of surrounding seawater.
The findings were published in a Nature Portfolio journal and stem from a larger research initiative known as X-REEFS. Ruszczyk served as the study’s lead author while working with an interdisciplinary team at the University of Miami.
Researchers used custom-built flumes to simulate ocean currents and test different materials that could be used in reef restoration projects. During the experiments, the team discovered that a new cement formulation raised the pH of nearby seawater, helping create conditions that improved coral survival.
Ruszczyk said the result was unexpected.
“We thought it would affect growth, but arguably, survivorship is even more important for reef restoration,” she said.
Coral reefs support a vast range of marine life and provide economic and environmental benefits for coastal communities around the world. Scientists often refer to reefs as the “rainforests of the sea” because of their biodiversity and ecological importance.
The researchers believe the technology could help offset some local impacts of ocean acidification, a process driven largely by increasing carbon dioxide levels in the atmosphere. The approach may be particularly beneficial for species such as mountainous star coral, which has experienced significant population declines in recent decades.
Ruszczyk said the project demonstrated the value of collaboration across scientific disciplines, bringing together expertise in biology, chemistry, physics and engineering to address a complex environmental challenge.
Now entering her first years at Keuka College, Ruszczyk said she hopes to bring that same interdisciplinary and problem-solving approach into the classroom while creating research opportunities for students.
If future field testing proves successful, the new restoration technique could become another tool in global efforts to preserve and rebuild coral reef ecosystems.
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