Super-Corals And The Future Of Coral Reefs | Verena Schoepf | TEDxUWA

Wow this the most beautiful coral reef

Wow this the most beautiful coral reef you have ever seen

you have ever seen

you have ever seen wouldn’t be a once-in-a-lifetime chance

wouldn’t be a once-in-a-lifetime chance

wouldn’t be a once-in-a-lifetime chance to go snorkeling and diving there

unfortunately it is too late for that

unfortunately it is too late for that because this reef is now dead and what

because this reef is now dead and what

because this reef is now dead and what you see here in fact is not a healthy

you see here in fact is not a healthy

you see here in fact is not a healthy vibrant coral reef but a reef in the

vibrant coral reef but a reef in the

vibrant coral reef but a reef in the midst of severe bleaching and on the

midst of severe bleaching and on the

midst of severe bleaching and on the brink of dying from heat stress this

brink of dying from heat stress this

brink of dying from heat stress this reef now looks similar to this coral

reef now looks similar to this coral

reef now looks similar to this coral graveyard because the severely bleached

graveyard because the severely bleached

graveyard because the severely bleached Riley fluorescing corals

Riley fluorescing corals

Riley fluorescing corals would have succumbed to death after only

would have succumbed to death after only

would have succumbed to death after only a short period of time my name is marina

a short period of time my name is marina

a short period of time my name is marina chef and I have been fascinated by coral

chef and I have been fascinated by coral

chef and I have been fascinated by coral reefs since my childhood ever since I

reefs since my childhood ever since I

reefs since my childhood ever since I first went snorkeling on the coral reefs

first went snorkeling on the coral reefs

first went snorkeling on the coral reefs in the red sea I knew that I wanted to

in the red sea I knew that I wanted to

in the red sea I knew that I wanted to study these amazing underwater cities

study these amazing underwater cities

study these amazing underwater cities teeming with life

teeming with life

teeming with life but I would have never guessed that

but I would have never guessed that

but I would have never guessed that within just 20 years

within just 20 years

within just 20 years coral reefs would be dying on regional

coral reefs would be dying on regional

coral reefs would be dying on regional to global scales and that I would

to global scales and that I would

to global scales and that I would ultimately end up witnessing their

ultimately end up witnessing their

ultimately end up witnessing their decline and studying ways of how to save

decline and studying ways of how to save

decline and studying ways of how to save them what happened here how can an

them what happened here how can an

them what happened here how can an entire reef just die off how can a

entire reef just die off how can a

entire reef just die off how can a healthy vibrant coral reef turned into a

healthy vibrant coral reef turned into a

healthy vibrant coral reef turned into a ghostly white or a brightly fluorescent

ghostly white or a brightly fluorescent

ghostly white or a brightly fluorescent color explosion and then just die if

color explosion and then just die if

color explosion and then just die if you’re concerned now well you should be

you’re concerned now well you should be

you’re concerned now well you should be because this did not just occur on a

because this did not just occur on a

because this did not just occur on a single isolated reef somewhere far away

single isolated reef somewhere far away

single isolated reef somewhere far away this happens over and over again on

this happens over and over again on

this happens over and over again on coral reefs all around the world in

coral reefs all around the world in

coral reefs all around the world in Australia for example the Great Barrier

Australia for example the Great Barrier

Australia for example the Great Barrier Reef has already been hit by mass

Reef has already been hit by mass

Reef has already been hit by mass bleaching four times since 1980s most

bleaching four times since 1980s most

bleaching four times since 1980s most recently in 2016 and just earlier

recently in 2016 and just earlier

recently in 2016 and just earlier here in coral reefs in Western Australia

here in coral reefs in Western Australia

here in coral reefs in Western Australia have not been spared from mass bleaching

have not been spared from mass bleaching

have not been spared from mass bleaching so they were badly affected in 2010-11

so they were badly affected in 2010-11

so they were badly affected in 2010-11 and in being this is a truly global

and in being this is a truly global

and in being this is a truly global issue and this map shows you the

issue and this map shows you the

issue and this map shows you the footprint of the third and longest

footprint of the third and longest

footprint of the third and longest global coral bleaching event

global coral bleaching event

global coral bleaching event it started in 2014 and then spread to

it started in 2014 and then spread to

it started in 2014 and then spread to coral reefs all around the world and

coral reefs all around the world and

coral reefs all around the world and he’d only recently ended if we want to

he’d only recently ended if we want to

he’d only recently ended if we want to understand what coral bleaching is and

understand what coral bleaching is and

understand what coral bleaching is and the global coral reef crisis that

the global coral reef crisis that

the global coral reef crisis that threatens the very existence of coral

threatens the very existence of coral

threatens the very existence of coral reefs we first need to take a closer

reefs we first need to take a closer

reefs we first need to take a closer look at the coral itself what is the

look at the coral itself what is the

look at the coral itself what is the coral actually is it a rock a plant or

coral actually is it a rock a plant or

coral actually is it a rock a plant or even an animal the answer might surprise

even an animal the answer might surprise

even an animal the answer might surprise you because like Harlow is actually all

you because like Harlow is actually all

you because like Harlow is actually all of this a car is an animal closely

of this a car is an animal closely

of this a car is an animal closely related to anemones and jellyfish but

related to anemones and jellyfish but

related to anemones and jellyfish but they also produce limestone skeletons

they also produce limestone skeletons

they also produce limestone skeletons and they live in very close partnership

and they live in very close partnership

and they live in very close partnership or so called symbiosis with microscopic

or so called symbiosis with microscopic

or so called symbiosis with microscopic algae and it is in fact these algae the

algae and it is in fact these algae the

algae and it is in fact these algae the GiftA coral the healthy brown greenish

GiftA coral the healthy brown greenish

GiftA coral the healthy brown greenish color that you can see in a photo on the

color that you can see in a photo on the

color that you can see in a photo on the left these algae used sunlight to make

left these algae used sunlight to make

left these algae used sunlight to make food and then share the food with the

food and then share the food with the

food and then share the food with the coral and return for food the coral

coral and return for food the coral

coral and return for food the coral provides protection from predators and

provides protection from predators and

provides protection from predators and gives them key nutrients so it’s a

gives them key nutrients so it’s a

gives them key nutrients so it’s a pretty good deal unfortunately corals

pretty good deal unfortunately corals

pretty good deal unfortunately corals are very sensitive to some changes in

are very sensitive to some changes in

are very sensitive to some changes in water temperature and even just one or

water temperature and even just one or

water temperature and even just one or two degrees above the normal summer

two degrees above the normal summer

two degrees above the normal summer temperatures for sure periods of time is

temperatures for sure periods of time is

temperatures for sure periods of time is enough to cause trouble so now you can

enough to cause trouble so now you can

enough to cause trouble so now you can understand why coral reefs are are among

understand why coral reefs are are among

understand why coral reefs are are among those ecosystems that are most

those ecosystems that are most

those ecosystems that are most threatened by climate change and global

threatened by climate change and global

threatened by climate change and global warming the problem is that

warming the problem is that

warming the problem is that the water stays too hot for too long the

the water stays too hot for too long the

the water stays too hot for too long the symbiosis between the algae and the

symbiosis between the algae and the

symbiosis between the algae and the coral breaks down the coral expelled yog

coral breaks down the coral expelled yog

coral breaks down the coral expelled yog in large numbers and that leads to a

in large numbers and that leads to a

in large numbers and that leads to a dramatic loss of color a process

dramatic loss of color a process

dramatic loss of color a process referred to as coral bleaching as you

referred to as coral bleaching as you

referred to as coral bleaching as you can see in a photo in the middle so

can see in a photo in the middle so

can see in a photo in the middle so bleaching is like a severe case of heat

bleaching is like a severe case of heat

bleaching is like a severe case of heat stroke but corals can most of their food

stroke but corals can most of their food

stroke but corals can most of their food from their algae and sous bleached

from their algae and sous bleached

from their algae and sous bleached corals are essentially starving

corals are essentially starving

corals are essentially starving consuming their own energy reserves

consuming their own energy reserves

consuming their own energy reserves until well until the I de the water

until well until the I de the water

until well until the I de the water temperatures return back to normal and

temperatures return back to normal and

temperatures return back to normal and the coral has a chance to recover or

the coral has a chance to recover or

the coral has a chance to recover or well until they kind of run out of

well until they kind of run out of

well until they kind of run out of energy and die well this is really

energy and die well this is really

energy and die well this is really tragic some of you might be asking at

tragic some of you might be asking at

tragic some of you might be asking at this point why should we care about

this point why should we care about

this point why should we care about coral reefs yes there is really

coral reefs yes there is really

coral reefs yes there is really beautiful but if you’re not into

beautiful but if you’re not into

beautiful but if you’re not into snorkeling or diving why do we need

snorkeling or diving why do we need

snorkeling or diving why do we need healthy coral reefs coral reefs are

healthy coral reefs coral reefs are

healthy coral reefs coral reefs are often referred to as the rainforests of

often referred to as the rainforests of

often referred to as the rainforests of the sea because they are biodiversity

the sea because they are biodiversity

the sea because they are biodiversity hotspots but they also provide immense

hotspots but they also provide immense

hotspots but they also provide immense benefits to the economy in this society

the Great Barrier Reef alone for example

the Great Barrier Reef alone for example contributes six billion dollars to

contributes six billion dollars to

contributes six billion dollars to destroy an economy each year and

destroy an economy each year and

destroy an economy each year and supports sixty four thousand jobs with

supports sixty four thousand jobs with

supports sixty four thousand jobs with most Australians living close to the

most Australians living close to the

most Australians living close to the coast it is also important to know the

coast it is also important to know the

coast it is also important to know the coral reefs protect coastlines from

coral reefs protect coastlines from

coral reefs protect coastlines from storms and erosion and last but not

storms and erosion and last but not

storms and erosion and last but not least quarries may well be the

least quarries may well be the

least quarries may well be the pharmacy’s of the future novel

pharmacy’s of the future novel

pharmacy’s of the future novel biomechanical compounds continue to be

biomechanical compounds continue to be

biomechanical compounds continue to be discovered on in coral reef organisms

discovered on in coral reef organisms

discovered on in coral reef organisms and some of these compounds have

and some of these compounds have

and some of these compounds have actually shown great promise in the

actually shown great promise in the

actually shown great promise in the fight against cancer for example losing

fight against cancer for example losing

fight against cancer for example losing coral reefs but therefore not just be an

coral reefs but therefore not just be an

coral reefs but therefore not just be an ecological disaster

ecological disaster

ecological disaster but it would have dramatic consequences

but it would have dramatic consequences

but it would have dramatic consequences for all of us but despite this global

for all of us but despite this global

for all of us but despite this global coral reef crisis I have hoped for the

coral reef crisis I have hoped for the

coral reef crisis I have hoped for the future of coral reefs and here is one of

future of coral reefs and here is one of

future of coral reefs and here is one of the reasons why

so some of you are probably what right

so some of you are probably what right now what I’m seriously proposing that

now what I’m seriously proposing that

now what I’m seriously proposing that Superman will save the world scoria

Superman will save the world scoria

Superman will save the world scoria although I love the idea we all know

although I love the idea we all know

although I love the idea we all know that superheroes unfortunately do not

that superheroes unfortunately do not

that superheroes unfortunately do not exist we will have to tackle climate

exist we will have to tackle climate

exist we will have to tackle climate change if we want our children and

change if we want our children and

change if we want our children and grandchildren to live in a world with

grandchildren to live in a world with

grandchildren to live in a world with coral reefs can still exist but what

coral reefs can still exist but what

coral reefs can still exist but what makes me hopeful it’s the quarries

makes me hopeful it’s the quarries

makes me hopeful it’s the quarries around the world including myself have

around the world including myself have

around the world including myself have recently discovered so-called super

recently discovered so-called super

recently discovered so-called super corals

corals

corals even here in Western Australia super

even here in Western Australia super

even here in Western Australia super corals are not invincible super heroes

corals are not invincible super heroes

corals are not invincible super heroes they just don’t exist but super corals

they just don’t exist but super corals

they just don’t exist but super corals are like super athletes these athletes

are like super athletes these athletes

are like super athletes these athletes are all human yet they have the ability

are all human yet they have the ability

are all human yet they have the ability to swim or run much faster than almost

to swim or run much faster than almost

to swim or run much faster than almost anybody else super corals are just like

anybody else super corals are just like

anybody else super corals are just like that well they may not be moving very

that well they may not be moving very

that well they may not be moving very much they have the ability to cope with

much they have the ability to cope with

much they have the ability to cope with climate change better than most other

climate change better than most other

climate change better than most other corals so that means that we can learn

corals so that means that we can learn

corals so that means that we can learn from them how day and possibly also

from them how day and possibly also

from them how day and possibly also advocates can achieve this tolerance to

advocates can achieve this tolerance to

advocates can achieve this tolerance to cope with heat stress and climate change

cope with heat stress and climate change

cope with heat stress and climate change and it also means that we can look into

and it also means that we can look into

and it also means that we can look into their potential use for proactive

their potential use for proactive

their potential use for proactive conservation approaches such as assisted

conservation approaches such as assisted

conservation approaches such as assisted migration where we would take them to

migration where we would take them to

migration where we would take them to other degraded reefs to restore them and

other degraded reefs to restore them and

other degraded reefs to restore them and increase the resistance of the reef to

increase the resistance of the reef to

increase the resistance of the reef to climate change let me give you some

climate change let me give you some

climate change let me give you some examples of where we can find super

examples of where we can find super

examples of where we can find super corals in a northern red sea super

corals in a northern red sea super

corals in a northern red sea super Korra’s exist that do not bleach even

Korra’s exist that do not bleach even

Korra’s exist that do not bleach even when temperatures are several degrees

when temperatures are several degrees

when temperatures are several degrees above the normal summer temperatures

above the normal summer temperatures

above the normal summer temperatures remember most corals already bleached

remember most corals already bleached

remember most corals already bleached when temperature is here just one or two

when temperature is here just one or two

when temperature is here just one or two degrees warmer than usual so that’s

degrees warmer than usual so that’s

degrees warmer than usual so that’s quite remarkable or in the Persian

quite remarkable or in the Persian

quite remarkable or in the Persian Arabian Gulf cabal its hottest Coral Sea

Arabian Gulf cabal its hottest Coral Sea

Arabian Gulf cabal its hottest Coral Sea cause have two highest absolute coral

cause have two highest absolute coral

cause have two highest absolute coral bleaching thresholds close to 35 degrees

bleaching thresholds close to 35 degrees

bleaching thresholds close to 35 degrees most coral is living in the tropics

most coral is living in the tropics

most coral is living in the tropics bleached when temperatures get close to

bleached when temperatures get close to

bleached when temperatures get close to 30 degrees so this shows us the corals

30 degrees so this shows us the corals

30 degrees so this shows us the corals have the ability to cope with extremely

have the ability to cope with extremely

have the ability to cope with extremely high temperatures if given enough time

high temperatures if given enough time

high temperatures if given enough time to adapt but it is of course extremely

to adapt but it is of course extremely

to adapt but it is of course extremely exciting that we have super cross right

exciting that we have super cross right

exciting that we have super cross right here in Wi in the remote Kimberley

here in Wi in the remote Kimberley

here in Wi in the remote Kimberley region the Kimberley region is one of

region the Kimberley region is one of

region the Kimberley region is one of the toughest places for coral reefs in

the toughest places for coral reefs in

the toughest places for coral reefs in this world because this region has the

this world because this region has the

this world because this region has the world’s largest tropical tides up to 12

world’s largest tropical tides up to 12

world’s largest tropical tides up to 12 metres the giant heights of the Himalaya

metres the giant heights of the Himalaya

metres the giant heights of the Himalaya create many fascinating phenomena for

create many fascinating phenomena for

create many fascinating phenomena for example these massive tyloo currents or

example these massive tyloo currents or

example these massive tyloo currents or even waterfall reefs but they also mean

even waterfall reefs but they also mean

even waterfall reefs but they also mean that at low tide shallow corals they

that at low tide shallow corals they

that at low tide shallow corals they call this place home get exposed to air

call this place home get exposed to air

call this place home get exposed to air for up to one or two hours and they

for up to one or two hours and they

for up to one or two hours and they experienced extreme daily temperature

experienced extreme daily temperature

experienced extreme daily temperature swings and then when the tide rushes

swings and then when the tide rushes

swings and then when the tide rushes back in they suddenly find themselves

back in they suddenly find themselves

back in they suddenly find themselves back in ten meter water depth and while

back in ten meter water depth and while

back in ten meter water depth and while he’s certainly appreciated being back in

he’s certainly appreciated being back in

he’s certainly appreciated being back in the water dad water is completely unlike

the water dad water is completely unlike

the water dad water is completely unlike the crystal-clear waters that we

the crystal-clear waters that we

the crystal-clear waters that we typically associated with coral reefs so

typically associated with coral reefs so

typically associated with coral reefs so I think it’s pretty clear that this is

I think it’s pretty clear that this is

I think it’s pretty clear that this is as extreme as it gets when it comes to

as extreme as it gets when it comes to

as extreme as it gets when it comes to coral reefs when I started studying the

coral reefs when I started studying the

coral reefs when I started studying the coral reef of the Kimmel II a few years

coral reef of the Kimmel II a few years

coral reef of the Kimmel II a few years ago we knew very little about them it

ago we knew very little about them it

ago we knew very little about them it was unclear whether these corals were

was unclear whether these corals were

was unclear whether these corals were more resistant to bleaching because of

more resistant to bleaching because of

more resistant to bleaching because of the extreme environment that they live

the extreme environment that they live

the extreme environment that they live in or whether they were barely surviving

in or whether they were barely surviving

in or whether they were barely surviving there so I conducted a heat stress

there so I conducted a heat stress

there so I conducted a heat stress experiment and have found indeed that

experiment and have found indeed that

experiment and have found indeed that the corals from the most extreme places

the corals from the most extreme places

the corals from the most extreme places to tide pools are more resistant to heat

to tide pools are more resistant to heat

to tide pools are more resistant to heat stress and take longer to bleached in

stress and take longer to bleached in

stress and take longer to bleached in other corals so that was amazing news

other corals so that was amazing news

other corals so that was amazing news because I had essentially found soup

because I had essentially found soup

because I had essentially found soup chorus but then came the year 2016 the

chorus but then came the year 2016 the

chorus but then came the year 2016 the hottest year on record when I came back

hottest year on record when I came back

hottest year on record when I came back to my steady sites it was just

to my steady sites it was just

to my steady sites it was just devastating to see white chorus

devastating to see white chorus

devastating to see white chorus everywhere I looked and the Kimberley

everywhere I looked and the Kimberley

everywhere I looked and the Kimberley region was particularly bad as affected

region was particularly bad as affected

region was particularly bad as affected and even the Great Barrier Reef on the

and even the Great Barrier Reef on the

and even the Great Barrier Reef on the other side of the continent suffered one

other side of the continent suffered one

other side of the continent suffered one of the worst play demons in its recorded

of the worst play demons in its recorded

of the worst play demons in its recorded history this served as a stark reminder

history this served as a stark reminder

history this served as a stark reminder that even soo bahk Horrors are not

that even soo bahk Horrors are not

that even soo bahk Horrors are not immune to climate change in these marine

immune to climate change in these marine

immune to climate change in these marine heat waves when I went back to my study

heat waves when I went back to my study

heat waves when I went back to my study sites six months after the bleaching to

sites six months after the bleaching to

sites six months after the bleaching to see how many of the corals had recovered

see how many of the corals had recovered

see how many of the corals had recovered or died I have to admit that I wasn’t

or died I have to admit that I wasn’t

or died I have to admit that I wasn’t too hopeful and indeed in the places

too hopeful and indeed in the places

too hopeful and indeed in the places where I knew that the corals weren’t

where I knew that the corals weren’t

where I knew that the corals weren’t dead resistant to heat stress

dead resistant to heat stress

dead resistant to heat stress most of the corals had died and were now

most of the corals had died and were now

most of the corals had died and were now overgrown by algae and other organisms

overgrown by algae and other organisms

overgrown by algae and other organisms it was just heartbreaking but in the

it was just heartbreaking but in the

it was just heartbreaking but in the tide pools where the super corals live

tide pools where the super corals live

tide pools where the super corals live it was a completely different story

most of the corals and the typos had

most of the corals and the typos had completely recovered six months after

completely recovered six months after

completely recovered six months after the bleaching and the reef now looked as

the bleaching and the reef now looked as

the bleaching and the reef now looked as healthy as it did before in a bleaching

healthy as it did before in a bleaching

healthy as it did before in a bleaching so that was really remarkable so here is

so that was really remarkable so here is

so that was really remarkable so here is my take-home message corals have a

my take-home message corals have a

my take-home message corals have a remarkable ability to cope with even the

remarkable ability to cope with even the

remarkable ability to cope with even the most extreme environmental conditions as

most extreme environmental conditions as

most extreme environmental conditions as here in the Kimberley but time is

here in the Kimberley but time is

here in the Kimberley but time is critical we need to reduce greenhouse

critical we need to reduce greenhouse

critical we need to reduce greenhouse gas emissions now to slow down global

gas emissions now to slow down global

gas emissions now to slow down global warming and give coral reefs a chance to

warming and give coral reefs a chance to

warming and give coral reefs a chance to survive so can you you here in this room

survive so can you you here in this room

survive so can you you here in this room can you do something to help save the

can you do something to help save the

can you do something to help save the world’s coral reefs yes

world’s coral reefs yes

world’s coral reefs yes you can take action on climate change

you can take action on climate change

you can take action on climate change for example did he know that the meat

for example did he know that the meat

for example did he know that the meat industry contributes significantly to

industry contributes significantly to

industry contributes significantly to greenhouse gas emissions so cutting them

greenhouse gas emissions so cutting them

greenhouse gas emissions so cutting them meat consumptions we are going

meat consumptions we are going

meat consumptions we are going vegetarian is a great way to reduce the

vegetarian is a great way to reduce the

vegetarian is a great way to reduce the carbon footprint switch to renewable

carbon footprint switch to renewable

carbon footprint switch to renewable energies how many of you in here already

energies how many of you in here already

energies how many of you in here already have solar panels installed or drive

have solar panels installed or drive

have solar panels installed or drive electric cars yeah

electric cars yeah

electric cars yeah see you’re already helping to save the

see you’re already helping to save the

see you’re already helping to save the wallets coral reefs last but not least

wallets coral reefs last but not least

wallets coral reefs last but not least demand political action from your

demand political action from your

demand political action from your government because tackling climate

government because tackling climate

government because tackling climate change requires global action together

change requires global action together

change requires global action together we can save the wallet score waves thank

we can save the wallet score waves thank

we can save the wallet score waves thank you

you

you [Applause]