A new study published in Science Advances reveals that some coral species can maintain strong skeletons despite rising ocean acidity over the past 200 years.
Researchers from the University of Colorado Boulder used Raman spectroscopy to analyze coral skeletons nearly two centuries old. They found that corals are able to regulate the chemistry of the internal fluid used to build their skeletons — allowing them to continue producing calcium carbonate, even in increasingly acidic seawater.
However, experts caution that while this adaptation is promising, corals still face severe threats from global warming, pollution, and overfishing. Between 2023 and May 2024, mass coral bleaching was confirmed in over 62 countries.
Corals form the foundation of marine ecosystems — if their skeletons weaken, the impact could cascade through ocean life and ultimately affect humans as well.
