Source: TH
Context: The Philippines has launched Southeast Asia’s first coral larvae cryobank, a pioneering initiative to freeze and preserve coral “seeds” to protect marine biodiversity and revive damaged reefs.
About Southeast Asia’s First Coral Larvae Cryobank:
What it is?
- A scientific facility that freezes and stores coral larvae at ultra-low temperatures to preserve their genetic material for future use in reef restoration or research.
- Functions as a “genetic seed vault” for corals, helping safeguard biodiversity that could be lost due to climate change and coral bleaching.
Nations Involved:
- The project is part of a regional network under the Coral Research & Development Accelerator Platform.
- Participating countries include the Philippines, Taiwan, Indonesia, Malaysia, and Thailand.
How It Works?
- Collection of Coral Larvae: Coral larvae — the free-swimming reproductive stage — are collected during spawning events.
- Cryoprotection: The larvae are exposed to cryoprotective solutions that prevent ice crystal formation during freezing.
- Vitrification Process: Using a rapid freezing technique, larvae are plunged into liquid nitrogen at –196°C, turning them into a glass-like state without crystallisation.
- Revival Process: When needed, laser-based rapid warming thaws the samples within seconds, preventing cell damage.
- Rehydration & Growth: Revived larvae are rehydrated in seawater, monitored for movement and settling, then transferred to controlled tanks for coral regrowth.
Features:
- Preserves Coral Genetic Diversity: Maintains coral genotypes for decades, even if species vanish in the wild.
- Climate-Resilient Restoration: Enables reef revival using cryopreserved material, supporting adaptive restoration in warming oceans.
- Research Resource: Provides a long-term data bank for studying coral evolution, reproduction, and stress resistance.
- Collaborative Network: Integrates regional expertise to create a Coral Triangle Cryobank Network, ensuring shared protocols and data.
- Model Species Approach: Begins with hardy corals like Pocillopora, Acropora, and Galaxsia before expanding to endangered ones.
Limitations:
- Technical Complexity: Coral larvae are large, lipid-rich, and heat-sensitive, making vitrification challenging.
- Species-Specific Protocols: Each coral species requires different freezing and revival parameters.
- Low Survival Rates: Not all thawed larvae survive or successfully recolonise reefs.
- Infrastructure and Cost: Requires specialised labs, liquid nitrogen systems, and expert training, limiting scalability in developing nations.
