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coral exist in the tropical Shangri-la off the Ofu Island in the South Pacific Ocean may be some of the strong corals , living in lagoons with body of water temperature high enough to kill most of their brethren .
They are not just survive , but thesecoral reefs are boom , according to a marine biologist who is trying to find out just how they do it , during an outing running from March 18 through April 7 .
Researchers are hoping to unlock the secrets of corals that can withstand warm waters whose temperatures would kill most other corals.
" In fact , they ’re growing faster than the same species elsewhere , " said Stephen Palumbi of Stanford University .
Studying theseseemingly heat - insubordinate coralscould help scientist encounter ways to protect these and other corals , whichscientists vex are at riskas mood change warms the oceans .
Coral reefs are a all-important part of the surround ; they support more metal money per unit orbit than any other marine habitat . They are home to many fish we eat ; they draw divers ; cushion coasts from the effects of violent storm ; and have been thesource of medicinal substances , according to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration .
" Our enquiry taste to find the corals that are better at resist the negative effects of gamey temperature , and find out at the molecular genetic point how they accomplish this , " Palumbi said in a affirmation put out by the university .
To prove the corals ' strength , the research worker will expend a data processor - controlled marine museum that let them increase urine temperature to a precise degree . They will station the corals from unlike locations into this so - call coral stress tank , ramp up the temperature over the course of a daylight and supervise which of the corals survive and which bleach and die . Bleaching refer to the whitening of corals that takes place when they exhaust their symbiotic , and photosynthesizing , algae that live within their tissues . It by and large is a sign of accent .
The first part of the team ’s expedition takes place in Ofu Island in American Samoa ; from there , they will trip to Rarotonga and Aitutaki in the Cook Islands in the South Pacific Ocean .
" We do not know if the stiff coral we find tomorrow will be dead the next day , " Palumbi say . " But if we do not regain them , we will never know where to protect them . "
Stay updated on the squad ’s whereabouts and findings ontheir web log .
