On #EarthDay2021 we are happy to bring another update on our ongoing research into the incredibly resilient populations of 'urban corals' that have pioneered along the human-made shorelines near PortMiami. 1/10

Research scientists at @NOAA_AOML have been busy over the past two years studying Symmetrical Brain Corals (Pseudodiploria strigosa) growing along the edge of the MacArthur Causeway (made famous by the Bad Boys film franchise) and Star Island. 2/10

Compared to colonies of the same species living offshore on the natural reef, the urban corals were found to express proteins that help them acquire nutrients. Being able to digest pathogenic microbes is an effective immune response and provides even more nutrition. 3/10

Additionally, the majority of urban brain corals sampled appear to be hosting a more resilient species of photosynthetic zooxanthellae algae that is known for thermal tolerance and bleaching resistance. 4/10

The specialized differences offer some insights into how these corals adapted to living in Anthropogenic conditions. Miami has indeed become a refuge for many coral species that have experienced significant die-offs on Florida’s reefs since 2015. 5/10

When it comes to stress hardening and the 'assisted evolution' of corals, we couldn't ask for a better real-world proving ground than right here in the Coral City. 6/10

But are they 'Super Corals' though? While Coral Morphologic was the first to coin the term in 2011 ( https://bit.ly/3epMF02 ), we are careful not to jump to any premature conclusions and overstate the reef restoration value of the urban corals. 7/11

It’s possible that these corals are uniquely adapted to the nutrient rich, turbid waters exchanging from N. Biscayne Bay ( https://bit.ly/2QPsikI ). It’s possible that the clearer offshore waters may not provide them with enough nutrition they need to remain in top health. 8/11

A future experiment transplanting fragments of these urban brain corals to an offshore nursery will be necessary to see how well they may do in a reef restoration capacity. 9/11

One thing is not in question though, and that is that these corals are pioneers into a new marginal environment and worthy of further investigation. It is important not to confer 'super' status to corals that are simply bleaching survivors. 10/11

We’ll keep you posted when the 1st research paper on Miami’s ‘urban corals’ aka the OG ‘super corals’ is published. 11/11