South Florida researchers are using biodegradable drinking straws to prevent laboratory-grown coral from becoming really expensive fish food. Scientists around the world have been working for years to address the decline of coral reef populations. One solution has been to grow new coral in a lab and then place them in the ocean.
South Florida researchers are using biodegradable drinking straws to prevent laboratory-grown coral from becoming really expensive fish food. This July 26, 2023 image provided by phade® by WinCup, Inc., shows a “Coral Fort,” made of biodegradable drinking straws that researchers are using to prevent laboratory-grown coral from becoming really expensive fish food, off the coast of Fort Lauderdale, Fla.
Marine researcher Kyle Pisano said one problem is that predators like parrot fish attempt to bite and destroy the newly transplanted coral in areas like South Florida, leaving them with less than a 40% survival rate. With projects calling for thousands of coral to be planted over the next year and tens of thousands of coral to be planted over the next decade, the losses add up when coral pieces can cost more than $100 each.
Pisano had the idea of creating a protective barrier that would eventually dissolve, eliminating the need to maintain or remove it. He began conducting offshore experiments with biodegradable coral cages as part of a master’s degree program at Nova Southeastern University. He used a substance called polyhydroxyalkanoate, a biopolymer derived from the fermentation of canola oil. PHA biodegrades in ocean, leaving only water and carbon dioxide. His findings were published last year.
Reef Fortify is hoping to work with reef restoration projects all over the world. The Coral Forts already already being used by researchers at Nova Southeastern and the University of Miami, as well as Hawaii’s Division of Aquatic Resources.
Florida General News National GA State Wire FL State Wire Science Animals U.S. News Climate And Environment N Miami F Business Climate
United Kingdom Latest News, United Kingdom Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Scientists baffled over hundreds of fish 'spinning and whirling' dead onto South Florida shoresIt is too soon to speculate the cause of the unusual behavior, researchers say.
Read more »
Shooting at South Florida Mall Leaves One Dead, Seven InjuredOne person is dead and seven others were injured, including a police officer, in a shooting at a South Florida mall. The incident occurred after a dispute at Martini Bar at CityPlace Doral. A total of six bystanders were also shot.
Read more »
One man dead, one injured in South Shore shooting, police sayOne man is dead and another injured in a Saturday evening shooting in the South Shore neighborhood, according to Chicago police.
Read more »
JSO: One dead, one injured, one detained after two separate Tuesday night shootings in JacksonvilleThe man in his late teens/early 20s was found with multiple gunshot wounds when officers responded, according to Jacksonville police, as another man was detained.
Read more »
Rare Sawfish Deaths Baffle Scientists In Florida KeysKnown as the 'Mother of Sharks,' I'm a Latina marine biologist who has a lot of labels: science communicator, conservationist, author, educator, podcaster, television presenter. You might have seen me on Discovery Channel's Shark Week, National Geographic, BBC Wildlife, heard my TEDx talk or read my Scholastic books.
Read more »
Scientists working to discover why fish in Florida are ‘spinning’ themselves to deathResearchers are racing to figure out what’s causing the bizarre behavior and how to stop it.
Read more »