Hacking coral sex to save the reefs

The Gray Area with Sean Illing

Vox Media Podcast Network

Society & Culture, News, Politics, News Commentary, Philosophy

4.6 • 10.8K Ratings

🗓️ 21 July 2022

⏱️ 50 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

Vox's Benji Jones talks with marine biologist Hanna Koch about her team's efforts to repopulate the planet's coral reefs through cutting-edge scientific intervention. They discuss what makes coral so unique as organisms, how scientists understand their reproductive behavior, and how they are working to respawn corals and repopulate reefs. Hanna explains why this work is so imperative — not just for the diverse array of marine life that coral reefs are home to, but for the sustainability of human communities, as well. Host: Benji Jones (@BenjiSJones), Environmental reporter, Vox Guest: Hanna Koch (@DrHannaRKoch1), Marine biologist; postdoctoral research fellow, Coral Reef Restoration Program, Mote Marine Laboratory References: "How to resurrect a coral reef" by Benji Jones (Vox; Apr. 22) "Restored Corals Spawn Hope for Reefs Worldwide" by Hanna R. Koch, Erinn Muller, & Michael P. Crosby (The Scientist; Feb. 1, 2021) "Herbivorous Crabs Reverse the Seaweed Dilemma on Coral Reefs" by A. Jason Spadaro & Mark Butler (Current Biology 31 (4); Feb. 22, 2021) Enjoyed this episode? Rate Vox Conversations ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ and leave a review on Apple Podcasts. Subscribe for free. Be the first to hear the next episode of Vox Conversations by subscribing in your favorite podcast app. Support Vox Conversations by making a financial contribution to Vox! bit.ly/givepodcasts This episode was made by: Producer: Erikk Geannikis Editor: Amy Drozdowska Engineer: Patrick Boyd Deputy Editorial Director, Vox Talk: Amber Hall Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Transcript

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0:00.0	Can we bring coral reefs back from the dead?
0:05.0	I'm Benji Jones and I write for Vox about the environment, conservation and biodiversity.
0:13.1	And today I'm your host for Vox Conversations.
0:15.8	I've had the privilege of scuba diving on a coral reef, which can be a
0:29.7	pretty magical experience.
0:34.7	You get to enter another world full of life and color.
0:41.7	I've been followed by a giant manta ray.
0:46.7	I have swam next to a 10 foot shark.
0:53.7	And I once spooked an octopus that was devouring a conk.
0:59.7	I absolutely love being in these underwater worlds.
1:03.7	That's why it was so sad for me to learn that these environments that coral reefs are dying.
1:12.7	The Great Barrier Reef has always been Australia's treasure.
1:16.7	But now the largest living structure on the planet is becoming the largest dying structure.
1:22.7	The vast amounts of coral has been killed.
1:27.7	The numbers are dramatic and the consequences are far, far greater than the loss of magical scuba dives.
1:35.7	The decline of the world's coral reefs imparels us all.
1:42.7	Which is why I'm so eager to talk with my guest today, Hannah Cook.
1:46.7	Hannah's a marine biologist in the Florida Keys, and part of a legion of scientists racing to bring coral reefs back from the dead.
2:01.7	I gotta say, I report on a lot of solutions to protect and restore ecosystems that fail or even backfire.
2:09.7	But this seems different. And it might just work.
2:15.7	Hannah is a researcher at the Moat Marine Laboratory in Aquarium.
2:19.7	And as far as I'm concerned, she's living the dream.
	...

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