Project ASSIST
A data-driven selection framework for coral restoration
Identifying climate resilient corals
With the use of acute heat stress assays and underwater surveys during marine heatwaves, we are identifying the most heat tolerant corals of our reef sites for reef restoration.
Trade-offs with adaptive traits
Coral thermal tolerance is the most important survival trait. However, apart from this, numerous physiological traits are profoundly important to achieve long-term population growth of restored corals. These may be traded-off against high thermal tolerance. Our research uncovers whether trade-offs exist to ensure the selection of the best restoration candidates.
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Link physiological traits to restoration success
We are linking heat tolerance to improved restoration success by investigating the factors that make up a good restoration phenotype. This research includes investigations of the coral-algae and coral-bacteria symbiosis, a data deficient area in Malaysian coral science.
Cost-benefit analysis
The cost–benefit analysis evaluates the financial effectiveness of restoration efforts and source material selection strategies, balancing higher upfront costs with potential gains in long-term coral survival and biomass returns.
Impact & Insights
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Get in touch with Coralku to learn more about our work and how you can get involved.