Clever coral
While glow in the dark coral fluorescence may look a little psychedelic, it might just hold the key to prolonging survival of our natural reefs.
Collaborating with scientists from around the world, Dr Anya Salih from the School of Science and Health is currently exploring the phenomenon of fluorescence in corals.
Looking at the biological function of the unique fluorescent proteins in coral reef organisms, Anya investigates how these fluorescent proteins can reduce the effects of climate change, such as coral bleaching.
“By understanding the function of fluorescent protein present, we begin to see that the corals have a higher ability to optimise light, and reduce stress from harsh sunlight and the warming of the seas,” says Anya.
“I discovered over a decade ago that the majority of corals in the Great Barrier Reef hold the fluorescent protein, and the research has shown that these corals have a better capacity to survive the negative effects of global warming.
We know for certain that climate change will accelerate with the impact of coral bleaching becoming more frequent and more severe, but by understanding their biology, we begin to understand better the potential degree of corals adapting and coping with the rapidly increasing ocean temperatures.”
While Anya’s research takes her to laboratories all over the world, at UWS she is the Manager and Senior Scientist for the high-tech confocal microscopes on campus, which use laser light to image and track activity in living tissue at the molecular scale.
Renowned worldwide, Anya has recently returned from New York where she addressed delegates at the World Science Festival, and featured an exhibit on the Great Barrier Reef at the American Museum of Natural History.
Closer to home, Anya recently presented her research at the International Coral Reef Symposium in Cairns, attended by more than 2,500 scientists from around the world.
“We still know relatively little about the biology of the multitude of organisms that populate the Reef and only a fraction of organisms has been described, but we stand at the brink of new discoveries of biological processes and there is much more to learn.”
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