A coral Reef Refuge in the Red Sea
Coral reefs around the world are rapidly deteriorating due to human-induced warming, acidification, and pollution of the seas. Corals in the GoA have the potential to survive predicted climate changes and act as a refuge. We believe this resilience results from the unique oceanographic history of the Red Sea and further research is underway to fully understand this phenomenon.
CO2 vents as natural labs
In a series of studies in Mediterranean Sea and tropical CO2 vent systems we explore responses of benthic organisms along a pH gradient to the conditions they live in. These unique environments tell an amazing story on the acclimation capacity of marine ecosystems.
Looking into the future using the Red Sea Simulator
The Red Sea simulator was designed to allow researchers to expose reef organisms to future conditions in the Red Sea.
Measuring the response of engineering species (coral and seagrass) to the combined effect of global and local environmental change in the Gulf of Aqaba
How engineering species will respond to global (ocean warming and acidification) and local (pollution, overfishing and physical destruction)? The project is conducted jointly by researchers from the Marine Science Station (MSS, Aqaba) /University of Jordan and from the Interuniversity Institute for Marine Science (IUI, Eilat)/Bar-Ilan University, Israel.
Can reef-building corals escape ageing?
Some argue corals can live for ever. Can they really and how do they do it? this project is a joint project with researchers from Stony Brook University, supported by an NSF-BSF grant.
Defining the role of steroids and temperature in coral
reproduction
Coral reefs recovery depends on successful coral reproduction and the mitigation of anthropogenic stressors. Knowledge of what drives and disrupts coral reproduction, and the ability to detect early signs of reproductive stress, are crucial to the study and protection of globally threatened coral reef ecosystems. This project is a joint project with researchers from Stony Brook University, supported by an NSF-BSF grant.
Monitoring coral's "heartbeat"
CMSI, the first node in a network of monitoring stations to be installed in the Gulf of Aqaba and the Red Sea, is the world’s first real-time, open data coral monitoring station. CMS I collects multiple streams of real-time data that are curated in an open access online database. This open-access database will enable researchers from the region and around the world to collaborate and to advance the understanding of effects of environment on coral function and wellbeing. CMS I collects data on multiple environmental parameters (e.g., air and water temperature, wind speed and direction, light intensity at the sea’s surface and under water) and on coral physiological performance (chlorophyll fluorescence) from 8 coral colonies (4 Stylophora pistillata and 4 Pocillopora damicornis). These multiple streams of data are complemented by physiological data and genetic profiles of the monitored corals. An underwater camera feed shows real-time conditions and records additional information on reef-fish activity and diversity, and coral pigmentation. https://iui-eilat.ac.il/Info/PamDashboard.aspx
