Rehabilitation of bleached Coral Reefs in Red Sea by culturing selected high-temperature resistant species

Summary

As the data available on the number, frequency, pattern, and intensity of the bleaching events are very limited; little is known on the vulnerability of corals to the heat stress at the Egyptian coast of the Red Sea. Most of the data represent either unpublished periodic reports that are almost unavailable for the scientific community or whenever available are more general with no details on the threatened coral taxa. Also, most of the data available lack detailed information on the severity of the bleaching events along this part of the Red Sea.

Therefore, the objectives of this proposal are:

1. Field survey for certain regions that had some areas of bleached corals to identify the most common species which susceptible to this phenomenon.
2. Broadly examine the thermal tolerance of different coral genera and species inhabiting the Egyptian coast of the Red Sea, to select the most high-temperature resistant species
3. Culturing these species to restore these damaged areas in a very sustainable matter without imposing negative impact on marine environment.
4. To mitigate the impact of climate change on coral reefs through large-scale coral restoration activities using selected resilient corals species.
5. Mitigate coral population declines and preserve biodiversity.

Achievements

List of Publications from the Project

Partners

Project Members

• Dr. Marwa M. El-Naggar
• Wiame Waheed Emam
• Karim Mohamed ElSaeed Soliman

Project Leaders

• Magdy Tawfik Khalil
• Wiame W. M. Emam