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Research to promote biobanking and aquaculture—improving the workflow for the cryopreservation of coral sperm for reef restoration.
Research to promote biobanking and aquaculture—improving the workflow for the cryopreservation of coral sperm for reef restoration.
TOP LEFT: Abigail (MN Zoo) handles newly fertilized coral embryos.
BOTTOM LEFT: Coral embryos are carefully transferred into clean seawater in preparation for cryopreservation experiments.
RIGHT: Nik (UMN BHMT) on an evening spawning dive, with nets used for collecting coral spawn in the wild.
Nik from the Bioheat and Mass Transfer Lab and Abigail from the Minnesota Zoo recently returned from fieldwork at the CARMABI marine lab on the island of Curaçao to learn about techniques to rear young corals. This training will support ongoing efforts in cryopreservation of coral larvae and sperm, and marks the start of a collaboration between UMN and the Zoo to support biodiversity!
By improving the methods of sperm preservation, we seek to enhance the viability and genetic diversity of coral populations, ultimately supporting effective reef restoration efforts. This work is crucial in addressing the challenges posed by climate change and habitat degradation, contributing to the sustainability of marine ecosystems.
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