Conservation Innovation & Technology

The Rapid Resilient Reefs for Coastal Defense (R3D) project is a collaborative effort to engineer a living coastal protection system inspired by natural reefs. HIMB researchers, including those from Dr. Josh Madin's Geometric Ecology Lab and Dr. Rob Toonen's ToBo Lab, are designing and building modular, 3D-printed concrete structures that mimic the crevices and habitats of a healthy reef. The goal is to deploy these structures to dissipate wave energy and protect coastlines, while also providing a complex habitat that encourages the settlement and growth of resilient corals and other reef organisms. This innovative project demonstrates how advanced engineering can work in harmony with biology to address the urgent threats of sea-level rise and coastal erosion.

HIMB is a global leader in the cryopreservation of coral, a process that involves freezing living coral cells and embryos for long-term storage. Led by scientists like Dr. Mary Hagedorn, this work is creating a genetic "bank" of diverse coral species that can be preserved for decades or even centuries. A recent proposal suggests a radical extension of this work: the creation of a lunar biorepository. This conceptual project, which would involve storing cryopreserved animal cells—including those from coral reefs—on the moon, is being explored by HIMB and the Smithsonian Institution as a long-term, secure repository for Earth's biodiversity. This technology is a critical conservation tool, providing a lifeline for species threatened with extinction. The recent breakthrough in cryopreserving entire coral fragments marks a significant step forward in this field.

HIMB's research using environmental DNA (eDNA) is revolutionizing marine biodiversity monitoring. Instead of physically catching or observing organisms, scientists can now analyze water samples to detect tiny traces of DNA shed by marine life. This non-invasive method allows for the rapid and comprehensive assessment of species present in a given area. Collaborations with partners like National Geographic's Pristine Seas expeditions and the Toonen-Bowen labhave utilized eDNA to create detailed biodiversity inventories of remote and vulnerable marine ecosystems, providing a powerful and scalable tool for documenting hidden life and informing the establishment and management of marine protected areas.

In a groundbreaking study, HIMB's Marine Ecological Theory Lab, led by Dr. Lisa McManus, used sophisticated supercomputer models to forecast the future of coral reefs under climate change. The study's key finding was that while some coral species will likely migrate poleward to cooler waters, this process will take centuries—far too slow to outpace the rapid pace of global warming. The models predict that the greatest coral losses will occur within the next 60 years, highlighting that this poleward "migration" will not be a viable escape for most tropical coral species. This work provides a stark warning and underscores the urgent need for global reductions in greenhouse gas emissions if coral reefs are to survive.