1 . Coral creates reefs, structures in the ocean that support entire ecosystems. However, climate change is threatening the existence of such reefs. The Great Barrier Reef has suffered four bleaching events in the last seven years.
Coral bleaching happens when extreme temperatures and sunlight force corals to release algae living in their tissue. This causes them to lose their color and turn white. The experience greatly weakens the coral and can kill them.
Scientists working on Australia’s Great Barrier Reef have successfully tested a new method for freezing and storing coral larvae — the very young form of the small ocean animal.
The science project in Australia involves freezing and storing coral larvae to use later for rewilding. A new material called “cryomesh” is helping the scientists in the effort. Coral is frozen using a special method called cryogenics. This permits the young animals to be stored until they can be unfrozen and placed in the wild. The process currently requires high-tech equipment including lasers and is costly. But, the team in Australia says cryomesh can do a better job of saving the coral and for much less money. The mesh technology helps to store coral larvae at-196 degrees Celsius.
The scientists used the cryomesh to freeze Great Barrier Reef coral larvae at the Australian Institute of Marine Sciences, or AIMS. Workers collected the coral during the animal’s brief yearly reproductive period.
Mary Hagedorn, Senior Research Scientist at Smithsonian National Zoo and Conservation Biology Institute explained, “If we can secure the biodiversity of coral...then we’ll have tools for the future to really help restore the reefs.” She added, “...this technology for coral reefs in the future is a real game-changer.”
The cryomesh had been tested earlier on smaller and larger kinds of Hawaian corals. A test on the larger failed. Tests are continuing with larger-size Great Barrier Reef coral. The tests involve scientists from four organizations. Together they are part of the Reef Restoration and Adaptation Program.
1. What’s the passage mainly about?| A．A comparison of two experiments. | B．A new method for restoring coral reefs. |
| C．The Great Barrier Reef under great threat. | D．Scientists’ joint efforts to support the ecosystem. |
| A．It is easier to store. | B．It is less expensive. |
| C．It freezes larvae faster. | D．It is environmentally friendly. |
| A．People can do more about the biodiversity of corals. |
| B．The scientists barely have tools to help the reefs restore. |
| C．The cryomesh technology has changed the corals’ situation. |
| D．The mesh technology will play a vital role in restoring the reefs. |
| A．Tests on larger corals are more important. |
| B．It is going to be applied widely to more corals. |
| C．Only scientists of AIMS are involved in the tests. |
| D．More experiments are needed to prove its efficiency. |
