Nanotechnology for coral reef conservation, restoration and rehabilitation

Roger, Liza M.; Lewinski, Nastassja A.; Putnam, Hollie M.; Chen, Shaochen; Roxbury, Daniel; Tresguerres, Martín; Wangpraseurt, Daniel

doi:10.1038/s41565-023-01402-6

Cited by 5 publications

(2 citation statements)

References 24 publications

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“…Nanoparticles can be designed to deliver therapeutic agents precisely to target cells or tissues in marine organisms, aiding in disease treatment and conservation efforts. To protect coral reefs [ 111 ], nanotechnology-based coatings can prevent the settlement of harmful organisms like algae or bacteria on their surfaces. These coatings [ 112 ] can also provide a controlled release of nutrients to promote coral growth.…”

Section: Nanotechnology and The 17 Sdgsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Nano Revolution: “Tiny tech, big impact: How nanotechnology is driving SDGs progress"

Elzein

2024

Heliyon

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Section: Nanotechnology and The 17 Sdgsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Nano Revolution: “Tiny tech, big impact: How nanotechnology is driving SDGs progress"

Elzein

2024

Heliyon

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“…The ongoing decline of coral reefs highlights the urgency of comprehensive conservation and restoration efforts (Suggett et al, 2023; Roger et al, 2023a) including coral gardening approaches and the development of artificial or hybrid reef structures (Burt et al, 2009; Lima et al,2019; Rinkevich, 2021; Roger et al, 2023b). Coral gardening (Rinkevich, 2021) involves the cultivation of coral fragments under protected conditions in nurseries until they reach a certain size and maturation, and their subsequent outplanting onto existing degraded reefs (Forrester et al, 2012).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Advancing coral micropropagation for coral restoration and reef engineering

Walton,

Badder,

Galindo-Martínez

et al. 2024

Preprint

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In the face of escalating threats posed by human-induced climate change, urgent attention to coral reef restoration is imperative due to ongoing reef degradation. Here, we explored the potential of generating coral micropropagates as a tool to rapidly generate coral tissue for reef restoration and reef engineering. We developed a hypersalinity-induced polyp bailout protocol and a simple attachment device to support the growth of micropropagates on commonly used restoration substrates. We found that hypersalinity induction, at a rate of < 1 ppt hr-1, produced healthy micropropagates of the coralStylophora pistillata. The highest attachment success (∼74%) was achieved in CaCO3substrate devices, which outperformed PVC (∼5%) and Portland cement (∼48%). Settled micropropagates displayed rapid growth rates on both CaCO3(0.037 mm2/day ± 0.002 SE) and PVC (0.057 mm2/day ± 0.008 SE) substrates, while Portland cement induced tissue degradation. Our study provides a detailed methodology for reliably generating, attaching, and growing coral micropropagates and underscores the potential of polyp bailout as a viable technique supporting coral restoration and reef engineering efforts.

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Underwater Quick‐Hardening Vegetable Oil‐Based Biodegradable Putty for Sustainable Coral Reef Restoration and Rehabilitation

Zych,

Contardi,

Rinaldi

et al. 2024

Advanced Sustainable Systems

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Coral reefs are threatened by climate change and the effects of human activity on the marine environment. Researchers are attempting to rescue this fragile ecosystem through coral restoration actions, and a common step in these procedures is transplanting the new coral colonies into coral reefs. To do that, commercial concrete or epoxy resins, also called putty, are utilized, highlighting different concerns about their mechanical and hardening performances and their impact and fate once released into the environment. Hence, this study presents a new biodegradable epoxidized soybean oil acrylate (ESOA)/zein‐based coral putty capable of quick hardening underwater as an ecofriendly alternative for transplantation of new coral colonies in the reef. Coral putty is composed of two components, containing one a radical initiator and the other a radical accelerator. Once the two components are mixed, coral putty becomes hard underwater in 20–25 min, showing a hardening timescale much faster than other commercial products. The coral putty is biocompatible when applied to the coral Stylophora pistillata in aquaria and Acropora tenuis corals are out‐planted on the reef in the Maldives, demonstrating how this new class of vegetable‐oil‐based materials can be a more sustainable alternative to epoxy resins commonly used in coral restoration procedures.

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Nanotechnology for coral reef conservation, restoration and rehabilitation

Abstract: The mounting pressure on coral reefs calls for a rapid push towards innovative actions. Nanotechnology could help understand and protect present-day reefs to ensure their survival for future generations.

Cited by 5 publications

References 24 publications

Nano Revolution: “Tiny tech, big impact: How nanotechnology is driving SDGs progress"

Nano Revolution: “Tiny tech, big impact: How nanotechnology is driving SDGs progress"

Advancing coral micropropagation for coral restoration and reef engineering

Underwater Quick‐Hardening Vegetable Oil‐Based Biodegradable Putty for Sustainable Coral Reef Restoration and Rehabilitation

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