Climate change is a huge problem worldwide, especially for our oceans. This climate crisis has impacted oceanic temperature, pH, and dissolved oxygen. The organisms living in these environments can not adapt fast enough to become resilient against these conditions, coral reefs being one of them. Thousands of marine species rely on coral reefs for shelter, food, and a breeding ground. Not only do other organisms depend on algae to survive, but it could be the other way around, too. Zooxanthellae, a type of microalgae, live inside coral tissue. This algae has a mutualistic symbiotic relationship with coral since the algae provides sugars from photosynthesis and the coral provides protection and nutrients. Zooxanthellae are also what cause coral reefs to come in thousands of colors. Due to climate change, these corals can now be seen as white due to an absence of the microalgae. This occurs because the warmer, more acidic water causes the algae to become corrupted. When it is consumed by the coral, it gets rejected, leaving the coral white. In this stage, the coral is not yet dead but bleached. If this act continued long-term, then the corals would die. 

When thinking about bright, beautiful coral reefs, most people think about the Great Barrier Reef. Contrary to popular belief, research has shown that the coral reefs in Indonesia are actually healthier than those in Australia. Economically, Indonesia has been more involved in its environmental and oceanic research than many other countries around the world. Since they are in the coral triangle, where about a third of the world’s corals lie, their coral reefs are more studied than the Great Barrier Reef. There have been more than five-hundred coral reef restoration projects occurring in Indonesia between 1990 and 2020. Compared to other countries, their government is strict with environmental and oceanic justice. In an act to protect coral reefs, the Indonesian government has restricted thirty million hectares of its ocean as a Marine Protected Area. Not only has there been a massive positive impact on Indonesia’s coral reefs, but there has also been a direct correlation to their coral reef restoration projects and their ocean ecosystem health. The increase in reefs has led to a much higher amount of biodiversity present since there is a home and food for them. 

Finding a way to combat climate change is important, but focusing on solving the health of these ecosystems to aid organism resilience is important as well. Artificial reefs are being planted to try to repopulate these dying reef populations. Lab-grown coral polyps are tied onto structures on the bottom of the ocean to then have an entire artificial reef grow, or allow another place for native coral to populate. In July 2023, Florida waters had reached a temperature of about 35°C. This has caused the artificial reefs to die since the threshold for coral survival in warming waters is typically no more than 30°C. The Australian Institute of Marine Science (AIMS) has been researching ways to create the most heat-tolerant corals. They are breeding heat-tolerant corals and symbiotic microalgae together to create an algae that is resilient against oceanic warming.