Scientists have found that severely bleached corals can bounce back to full health after being held against healthy, genetically identical corals. In laboratory tests, the bleached corals regained their color and recovered completely within seven weeks, with the turnaround beginning after as little as five days of contact, according to ScienceDaily.
The experiments involved placing dying corals in direct contact with healthy counterparts of the same genetic strain. The source reports that the simple act of touching was enough to trigger the recovery, though the underlying mechanism is not yet clear.
The finding may have practical implications for coral restoration, particularly in settings where genetically matched corals are available. Because the effect depends on genetic identity, the approach could be most applicable to nurseries or efforts focused on preserving specific genetic lines.