Genetic diversity and coral resilience across reef environments
Campus Plus are thrilled to announce our collaboration with Australian Institute of Marine Science on an industry-focused PhD project aimed at addressing key challenges in the coral restoration sector. This collaborative effort brings together academic expertise and industry insights to drive innovation and deliver real-world impact.
The project, titled “Genetic diversity and coral resilience across reef environments,” investigates how genetic diversity may influence coral performance during restoration and natural bleaching events. The project studies the fitness and genomes of offspring from different numbers of parents to assess how genetic diversity may support the performance of aquaculture produced coral stock, across reef environments. It seeks to provide evidence-based recommendations for coral breeding programs and inform restoration efforts that aim to enhance the adaptive capacity of reef-building corals under climate change.
Leveraging the Macquarie University renowned expertise in bioinformatics and genomics and Australian Institute of Marine Science‘s industry leadership in coral restoration, this project epitomises a collaborative approach that bridges the gap between academia and industry.
“The NIPhD offers significant value for our objectives by enabling us to meet our targets while retaining a key team member as she pursues her qualification. This innovative approach enhances productivity for everyone involved” – Dr Andrew Johnson
“This project is a significant step towards understanding how genetic diversity underpins coral resilience. We are proud to partner with the Australian Institute of Marine Science and to support Carys in her research” – Dr Patrick Buerger
“I’m excited to explore coral genomics – a new field for me – to investigate how genetic diversity may influence coral resilience across reef environments. Through this research, I hope to advance our understanding of effective reef restoration strategies.” – Carys Morgans
This project is part of the Reef Restoration and Adaptation program, funded by the partnership between the Australian Government’s Reef Trust and the Great Barrier Reef Foundation. The project provides a significant opportunity to strengthen collaborations between Macquarie University and the Australian Institute of Marine Science. This application is the first joint NIPhD project between Australian Institute of Marine Science and Macquarie University, setting the stage for future projects.
This study, based in North Queensland on the Great Barrier Reef, will examine the role of genetic diversity in coral resilience amid bleaching events, which threatens both reef ecosystem/biodiversity and the local economy. The findings will aim to inform restoration efforts and support long-term health of coral ecosystems in Australia.
Thank you Jason Ford for you continued support and effort with the program