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Coral reefs are in crisis.

WHOI Reef Solutions Initiative is here to help.

Coral reefs support more than 25% of marine animals and one billion people worldwide. But today, reefs everywhere are in decline and face a wide range of challenges.

WHOI’s Reef Solutions Initiative works to protect reefs and reverse the global decline of reef ecosystems with rigorous science, advanced tools and innovative solutions.

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Researchers propose a new technology-centered focus to study and conserve coral reefs

By kkostel | June 2, 2023

The scope and scale of threats facing coral reefs demand new ways of approaching the questions that need to be answered in order to ensure the future of reefs worldwide. That’s the conclusion of a paper released in print today by a multi-disciplinary scientists and engineers from the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (WHOI). Read more

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Can Sound Help Save Coral Reefs?

By kkostel | May 22, 2023

Coral reefs are more than just a feast for the eyes, they are also awash in a stunning array of sounds. The chirps, grunts, and snaps of fish, shrimp, and other reef inhabitants are hallmarks of a healthy coral community rich in animals moving, feeding, calling out to potential mates, and fending off predators. To…

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Study Examines the Impact of Coral Chemical Compounds on Reef Composition and Health

By kkostel | October 28, 2022

Stumbling upon a new source of underwater caffeine was just an added bonus of a new study examining the impact of chemical compounds that corals release into the seawater. The study found that the organic chemical compounds produced through metabolism -known as metabolites or exudates-vary significantly by coral species and that the compounds impact the…

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As oceans warm, snapping shrimp sound a warning

By kkostel | August 18, 2022

Research published by Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (WHOI) scientists today in Frontiers in Marine Science confirmed their previous observations that rising temperatures increase the sound of snapping shrimp, a tiny crustacean found in temperate and tropical coastal marine environments around the world. In the first study of its kind, WHOI marine ecologists Ashlee Lillis and T. Aran Mooney established…

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Give Reefs a Chance Campaign

By kkostel | July 29, 2022

Join our campaign to give reefs a chance in a changing ocean. With your help, we can all make a difference. Learn more >

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Give Reefs a Chance Video

By kkostel | July 29, 2022

Coral reefs around the world are facing a dangerous decline, but there is still hope! This behind-the-scenes video highlights some of the novel technologies and approaches WHOI researchers are developing to detect and diagnose at-risk corals before any visible signs of damage when there is still time to intervene

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A Coral Reef Kickstart

By kmcmullen | July 14, 2021

WHOI’s Reef Solutions Initiative takes a multi-disciplinary approach to investigate solutions for ailing coral reefs. Read more.

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Field Trip to St. John, U.S. Virgin Islands

By kmcmullen | July 14, 2021

Members of the WARP Lab and several others on the Reef Solutions Initiative team traveled to the U.S. Virgin Islands in October 2021. Take a look at some of what they did. Read more.

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