Red Sea Heatwave Aids Coral Resilience Research

A rare marine heatwave in the summer of 2022 near Thuwal in Makkah Province gave researchers a chance to test new ways of helping corals survive rising temperatures, 2026.

During the heatwave, waters in the northern Red Sea climbed to nearly 32°C, placing significant stress on local reefs. Researchers used the event to examine colonies of the coral Acropora cf. valida, dividing them into groups that received live probiotic bacteria, inactivated bacterial preparations, or a saltwater placebo.

Over a 15-day period, both of the live probiotic treatments and one of the inactivated (postbiotic) preparations helped the corals maintain their photosynthetic efficiency, a key measure of coral health. In contrast, corals that received only the saltwater placebo declined.

Why it matters

The findings suggest that probiotic and postbiotic treatments could improve the ability of corals to withstand heat stress, an issue of growing importance as ocean temperatures rise. The Red Sea is home to some of the most heat-tolerant corals in the world, making it a valuable natural laboratory for this kind of research.

It is important to note that these treatments remain experimental research interventions. They are not publicly available services or products, and there are no fees, application steps, or official channels for the public related to this study. The work adds to a growing body of marine science taking place along the Kingdom's Red Sea coast.

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