Coral itself may play important role in regulating local climate: Coral chemicals protect against warming oceans
Wednesday, October 23, 2013 - 16:30
in Earth & Climate
Australian marine scientists have found the first evidence that coral itself may play an important role in regulating local climate. They have discovered that the coral animal -- not just its algal symbiont -- makes an important sulfur-based molecule with properties to assist it in many ways, ranging from cellular protection in times of heat stress to local climate cooling by encouraging clouds to form.