Coral & Coastal Resilience

The Coral Resilience Lab (CRL) at HIMB is a world-renowned center for research on coral adaptation and resilience. The CRL pioneered a method called "assisted evolution" to identify and selectively breed corals with enhanced thermal tolerance, helping them better withstand rising ocean temperatures and bleaching events. This groundbreaking work aims to "supercharge" the natural adaptive capabilities of corals to support reef restoration and conservation.

HIMB researchers, including Dr. Elizabeth Madin, have studied the ecological phenomenon of "reef halos," which are rings of bare sand that often surround coral patch reefs. These halos are created by herbivorous fish that venture out from the safety of the reef to graze on algae and seagrass, but don't stray too far to avoid predators. The presence and size of these halos can serve as a valuable indicator of the health of the entire reef ecosystem, particularly the balance between predator and herbivore populations.

HIMB’s Coastal Systems Ecology Lab recently developed a Coral Disease Forecasting System in partnership with NOAA. This powerful tool uses a wide range of ecological and marine environmental data to predict when disease outbreaks are most likely to occur, providing a near-real-time early warning for marine managers. This tool helps conservationists take proactive, timely action to protect and preserve vulnerable coral reefs.

HIMB’s Aquatic Microbial Ecology Lab conducts a monthly time series of seawater in Kāne‘ohe Bay, studying marine microbes which are the invisible engines of the ocean, vital for both local and global health. This long-term data collection helps monitor the health of the local ecosystem, including its coral reefs, as microbes act as sensitive indicators of environmental changes like pollution. Globally, this research is crucial because marine microbes produce half of the world's oxygen and play a critical role in mitigating climate change by absorbing and storing carbon from the atmosphere, providing essential insights for future conservation efforts.

The Coral Resilience Lab at HIMB studies how some corals are able to survive warming ocean temperatures by looking at their genes and biochemistry. They compare naturally resilient corals—the ones that don't bleach—with sensitive ones right next door. By examining the DNA and other molecular factors of these corals, researchers can identify the specific genes and biological pathways that give some corals their superpower. The lab also breeds these heat-tolerant corals to see if their offspring inherit this resilience, which could inform future efforts to restore and protect coral reefs.

The Geometric Ecology Lab at HIMB studies how the physical structure of coral reefs—their nooks, crannies, and three-dimensional shape—influences the life they support. Their research uses advanced tools like 3D imaging and computer models to precisely measure reef complexity. They have found that this complexity is a key factor in biodiversity, as a more intricate reef structure offers more hiding spots and varied habitats for different species. The lab's work is significant because it helps us understand how the physical degradation of reefs from storms or climate change can lead to a loss of species, providing a roadmap for conservation efforts aimed at rebuilding and protecting these fragile ecosystems.

The HIMARC (Hawai‘i Monitoring and Reporting Collaborative) project is led by the Mary Donovan Lab at HIMB, bringing together scientists, government agencies, and community groups. Its purpose is to combine and make sense of the many different datasets that exist for Hawai‘i's nearshore marine ecosystems, especially for coral reefs. By taking all of this information—which might include data from fish surveys, water quality tests, and community observations—and creating a single, easy-to-read picture of reef health, HIMARC helps provide a clear, data-driven foundation for making informed conservation decisions and protecting the health of Hawaii's coastlines