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Bleached coral in the Indian Ocean

Researchers have determined that a certain species of coral found in the Gulf of Aqaba is quite resistant to global warming and ocean acidification, and therefore needs protection from other stressors, such as pollution. The resillent coral species, Stylophora pistillata, has now been studied by scientists at EPFL (Ecole Polytechnique Federale de Lausanne), UNIL (Univeriste de Lausanne) in Switzerland, Mina and Everard Goodman Faculty of Life Sciences at Bar-Ilan University, and the InterUniveristy Institute of Marine Sciences in Israel; all of whom have been working on understanding the key mechanism that has led to the coral's unique thermal resistance.

They hope their research will lead to solutions for the large scale bleaching events that are taking place around the world, as well as possibly help to repopulate deteriorated reefs outside of the gulf. As the Gulf of Aqaba lies at the northern tip of the Red Sea and is bordered by four countries—Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Israel, and Egypt—researchers are trying to encourage the border countries to come together and form an environmental protection program for this natural phenomenom. 

Read more here.