Heat-resistant corals.
Scientists around the world are trying hard to help corals stay alive. One team in the United Kingdom found a good idea to help! They used something called "selective breeding" to create corals that can survive heat waves.
What is selective breeding?
Selective breeding is like picking the best players for a team. People choose the best plants or animals and make them have babies. The babies will have the good qualities of the parents.
This method helps make better fruits, stronger crops, and now, heat-resistant corals!
How did the scientists create the corals?
The scientists tested the heat tolerance of parent corals. They then made baby corals. They made two groups: one group that could handle heat and one that couldn’t. After 3-4 years, they found out that the babies of the strong, heat-resistant parents were also strong!
Now, they want to test these heat-resistant corals in the ocean. This is a big challenge, but if it works, it could help coral reefs grow strong again!
Importance of corals.
Corals are like superheroes in the ocean! They come together to make coral reefs. These reefs protect beaches from big storms and waves. They also give fish a home and food. People catch fish from coral reefs to eat or sell, and tourists love to visit them!
But corals are in danger. Pollution and warmer water are making it hard for them to survive. If we don’t help, coral reefs could disappear.
