Success: Researchers Work to Restore the Great Barrier Reef

Target: Professor Peter Harrison, Project Leader

Goal: Support the conservation efforts to save the Great Barrier Reef from the brink of destruction.

An undersea robot was deployed to disperse microscopic baby corals throughout the Great Barrier Reef to save the reef from the effects of climate change. This breakthrough technology, named LarvalBot, was developed by a team of researchers in Australia. Thanks to the efforts of these scientists, and this ForceChange petition, a chance to save the Great Barrier Reef exists.

The effects of climate change on the Great Barrier Reef, located off the northeast coast of Australia, have caused unprecedented levels of coral bleaching. Coral is a plant-like organism. The individual corals are called polyps. Each polyp has a limestone skeleton and connects these skeletons to other polyps in colonies. The colonies of limestone skeletons acting as one single organism is what we call a reef. As environmental threats increase – pollution, change in temperature, lack of oxygen, sedimentation- coral starts to get sick and die. This leaves behind a pale, bleached, and lifeless rock. The Great Barrier Reef is sick and will continue to die unless we take drastic measures.

The research team has been harvesting excess coral sperm and eggs during spawning from areas where coral is healthy, and rearing these larvae in the lab. LarvalBot then helps to save the reef by depositing the larvae into areas where the original coral has died off. This, coupled with drastic steps to reduce global climate change, may save the reef from the brink of total destruction.

We applaud the efforts of the LarvalBot team, led by Professor Peter Harrison, to help save one of the Seven Wonders of the Natural World.

PETITION LETTER:

Dear Prof. Harrison,

The Great Barrier Reef is teetering on the brink of total destruction. Global climate change has caused an unprecedented rate of coral bleaching, pushing the reef closer and closer to death. Your larval restoration research and LarvalBot may buy us the time we need to save the reef by recovering degraded areas. Coupled with drastic measures to mitigate global climate change, LarvalBot could revive a sick and dying reef.

Thank you for making the Great Barrier Reef a priority and working toward saving one of our natural wonders.

Sincerely,

[Your Name Here]

Photo Credit: Kyle Taylor