Rare Corals Find New Home at Harte Research Institute After Time at Texas State Aquarium, Advancing Gulf Conservation and Research

Multiple rare corals were moved in the last few weeks of 2024 from the Texas State Aquarium’s (TSA) Center for Wildlife Rescue in Corpus Christi to a new home at the Coral Reef and Ocean Health lab at the Harte Research Institute for Gulf of Mexico Studies at Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi.

The corals were part of “Operation Coral Rescue” in September when they were transported from coral nurseries at Nova Southeastern University in South Florida to Corpus Christi and the aquarium’s sea turtle hospital.

Approximately 100 different genotypes of the critically endangered Staghorn Coral were received in the shipment, and it also included various colonies of the endangered Mountainous Star Coral. Many of the corals have grown during their time at TSA and will help preserve and strengthen the population’s genetic diversity. These endangered coral species are found in the Caribbean and western Atlantic.

“We want to thank the Texas State Aquarium for housing these corals the last few months,” said Keisha Bahr, Chair for Coral Reef and Ocean Health. “This project is a significant step in preserving the genetic diversity of critically endangered corals while advancing our understanding of how these vital ecosystems adapt to environmental challenges. By relocating these corals to our lab, we’re not only safeguarding biodiversity but also paving the way for innovative research and restoration efforts in the Gulf of Mexico and beyond.”

The corals also have an educational component as these corals of opportunity will be used at HRI to help develop a coral health color card for Caribbean corals to support coral reef monitoring efforts in the Gulf of Mexico and Caribbean.

HRI’s Coral Reef and Ocean Health program focuses on how corals and coral reefs react and adapt to environmental changes. As climate change, ocean warming, and acidification threaten coral survival, this project not only preserves biodiversity of these species but also strengthens the future of coral research and restoration in the Gulf of Mexico.

Corals are vital to marine ecosystems and human populations due to their diverse and far-reaching benefits, which include providing habitats for nearly a quarter of marine species and supporting fisheries. They can also protect coastal communities by acting as natural barriers against storms and erosion.