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ARS Home » Plains Area » Fort Collins, Colorado » Center for Agricultural Resources Research » Agricultural Genetic Resources Preservation Research » Research » Publications at this Location » Publication #421563
Research Project: National Animal Germplasm Program

Location: Agricultural Genetic Resources Preservation Research

Title: Conservation of coral genetic diversity through a global biorepository network

Author
item HAGEDORN, MARY - Smithsonian Institute
item ZUCHOWICZ, NICK - Smithsonian Institute
item HENLEY, MICHAEL - Smithsonian Institute
item LAGER, CLAIRE - Smithsonian Institute
item PERRY, RLEY - Smithsonian Institute
item Blackburn, Harvey
item BOUWMEESTER, JESSICA - Red Sea Global
item BRUNEL, OLIVIER - Oceanographic Institute Of Monaco
item CARTER, CLAIRE - Smithsonian Institute
item RODRIGUEZ-CLARK, KATHRYN - Smithsonian Institute
item COMIZZOLI, PIERRE - Smithsonian Institute
item FIRCHAU, BETH - Association Of Zoos And Aquariums
item MILLER, DEAN - Great Barrier Reef Legacy
item MOORE, JENNIFER - National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)
item MULLER, ERINN - Mote Marine Laboratory
item O'NEIL, KERI - The Florida Aquarium
item QUATTRINI, ANDREA - Smithsonian Institute
item ZOCCOLA, DIDIER - Oceanographic Institute Of Monaco
item BANASZAK, ANASTAZIA - Universidad Nacional Autonoma De Mexico
item MARHAVER, KRISTEN - Caribbean Research And Management Of Biodiversity (CARMABI)
item HOBBS, REBECCA - Taronga Conservation Society Australia
item O'BRIEN, JUSTINE - University Of New South Wales
item DALY, JONATHAN - University Of New South Wales

Submitted to: Bioscience
Publication Type: Peer Reviewed Journal
Publication Acceptance Date: 6/2/2025
Publication Date: 8/21/2025
Citation: Hagedorn, M., Zuchowicz, N., Henley, M., Lager, C., Perry, R., Blackburn, H.D., Bouwmeester, J., Brunel, O., Carter, C., Rodriguez-Clark, K., Comizzoli, P., Firchau, B., Miller, D., Moore, J., Muller, E.M., O'Neil, K., Quattrini, A.M., Zoccola, D., Banaszak, A.T., Marhaver, K., Hobbs, R., O'Brien, J.K., Daly, J. 2025. Conservation of coral genetic diversity through a global biorepository network. Bioscience. Article biaf117. https://doi.org/10.1093/biosci/biaf117.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1093/biosci/biaf117

Interpretive Summary: Conserving coral genetic resources is a critical global issue. This paper discusses how the coral research and conservation communities can establish and utilize cryopreserved collections of coral in conjunction with ex-situ and in-situ activities. The establishment of biobanked samples of coral, using standardized processes will help secure diversity and contribute to supporting reef resilience and restoration.

Technical Abstract: Climate models estimate that if greenhouse gas emissions continue unabated, 95% of the world’s shallow water reef-building corals could die within generations. Reducing global carbon emissions is critical, but progress is slow, with relief possibly coming too late. Critical intervention is needed now to safeguard reefs. Towards this end, we are working with global partners to expand our Coral Biorepository Alliance to maintain diverse collections of corals in biosecure facilities using three main approaches: frozen nonliving tissue samples; live coral colonies in aquaculture; or frozen-and-alive cryopreserved samples. We will integrate and standardize these coral biorepository types and processes through global collaboration to prioritize and secure essential bio- and genetic diversity of coral species to create a hedge against extinction in situ. Additionally, it will serve to actively support reef resilience and restoration through the production of new multi-locus coral genotypes from cryopreserved samples and ex situ coral fragments via selective breeding.