Can Baby Corals Improve the Reefs of Tomorrow?

Coral reefs are one of Earth’s most biodiverse and imperiled ecosystems. Corals form the foundation of this ecosystem. Substantial effort is being invested to help adult corals survive environmental degradation, but less attention is paid to their offspring and how they establish themselves on the seafloor. Unlike adult corals, baby corals move about in the water column, perhaps allowing them to find better environments. Aaron Hartmann will highlight the importance of these juvenile corals for the long-term survival and conservation of coral reefs in a changing world.