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Delta launched live streaming of coral spawning to demonstrate resilience under global warming

2024/05/01


The live-streaming event provides explanations from researchers to help everyone understand coral knowledge

Global warming is becoming increasingly severe, triggering high-temperature warnings in the oceans. This year, the U.S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) announced that the world is experiencing its fourth major coral bleaching event, with more than half of coral reefs in crisis. Located at the apex of the world's coral reef distribution triangle, Taiwan is a thriving area for corals. In recent years, however, it has also been threatened by high temperatures, and bleaching has become increasingly common.

Corals exhibit a large-scale spawning phenomenon as one of their reproductive strategies. Since corals cannot move, sexual reproduction relies on the rapid release of a large number of eggs in a short period of time. Fertilization occurs externally in seawater, after which the zygotes settle on the sea floor and eventually develop into corals. The Kenting area itself has a unique hot spring water temperature, which is a potential reason for maintaining the coral ecology well and even helping to enhance the coral recovery ability. The site chosen for the Foundation's live stream is outside the water intake of the Maanshan Nuclear Power Plant in Kenting. The diversity and coverage of coral species are high, making it an excellent place to observe spawning phenomena.

To ensure the capture of coral spawning scenes, the foundation, along with researchers from the National Museum of Marine Biology and Aquarium, conducted continuous underwater observations of coral preparations several days before the live broadcast. We also received many pieces of training, including conversation through a full face mask, carrying on two diving cylinders up to 34 kilograms, and filming with a 4K/8K underwater camera. There were also 9 Delta Marine volunteers who participated in the pre-marking of corals about to spawn and conducted CoralNet coral reef monitoring with NMMBA researchers. The three-hour live stream recorded four instances of large-scale coral spawning, including stony coral, brain coral, and star coral. Tens of thousands of people watched the live video and witnessed the underwater starry sky and the beauty of coral life.

As sea temperatures continue to rise, the future mechanism of coral spawning may be affected. Through the coral live-streaming event, the foundation hopes to not only document the beauty of coral regeneration, but also raise public awareness about climate change and coral conservation, and encourage more energy-saving and carbon-reducing actions. In July, coral spawning will occur in the North of Taiwan, and the foundation will launch another live broadcast event in Keelung Chaojing Bay Resource Conservation Area to promote environmental education.


Corals exhibit a large-scale spawning phenomenon as one of their reproductive strategies

Coral spawning live broadcast: watch the live video.

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