Witness one of nature’s most elusive wonders as Jamie Craggs, Aquarium Curator at the Horniman Museum and Gardens, successfully causes corals to spawn in captivity.
In their natural habitat, corals reproduce sexually once a year during a mass spawning event that is as complicated to recreate as it is beautiful to observe.
Scientists believe an interaction between sea temperature, the Sun’s intensity and the phase of the Moon triggers this synchronised spawning, and Jamie has been working on artificially replicating these environmental conditions to reliably induce the spawning of captive corals.
His success will help scientists to investigate the impact of climate change on coral reproduction and could even help in the restoration of damaged reefs.
Dive in
Find out more about life underwater and read about the pioneering work of the Museum's marine scientists.
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