Ross Cunning, a coral biologist with Shedd Aquarium, underscores the significance of climate change by studying coral reefs. He emphasizes that identifying preventive measures and enhancing heat tolerance is a paramount concern for both researchers and the community.
"Finding interventions to boost the heat tolerance in coral reefs is more important than ever," said Cunning. "We must stop the root of the problem and stop greenhouse gas emissions as quickly as possible."
According to Health News Florida, the primary aim of this project is to safeguard the overheated corals off the Florida coast using various strategies. An 80-foot vessel laden with researchers often travels as far as the Dominican Republic to gain a deeper understanding of reefs, corals, and their impact on marine life. This year, high school students and researchers are journeying to the Bahamas to better understand dolphin protection through snorkeling and firsthand encounters. Whether it's snorkeling in crystal clear waters or observing marine life up close, aspiring marine biologists and college students are boarding The Coral Reef II to enhance their understanding of sea life and its symbiotic relationship with terrestrial life.
Health News Florida reports that the boat is equipped with 'live well systems,' allowing the crew to capture certain marine creatures, conduct heat-sensory tests on them, and then carefully return them to their natural habitat. Cunning conducted research at the University of Miami where he sought to better understand juvenile corals by cultivating them in unusually high water temperatures. He explains how closely related species of coral can often react differently to heat, and that finding the most heat-tolerant coral is a clear objective. Above all else, Cunning stresses the importance of acknowledging climate change as it is driving up coral temperatures.
Shedd Aquarium informs us that Cunning earned his Ph.D. in Marine Biology and Ecology from the University of Miami after completing his Bachelor of Science degree at Duke University. As noted in this article, his professional interests and research primarily focus on gaining a deeper understanding of coral reefs in the Bahamas and how they can be sustained in an ever-changing environment. When not conducting fieldwork in the Caribbean, he works at Shedd Aquarium’s Microbiome Lab, where he continues his molecular studies.
