New centre leads world in understanding coral bleaching

A new centre at The University of Queensland is leading the world in research into coral bleaching - the main cause of death for coral reefs.

Professor Ove Hoegh-Guldberg is the Director of the Centre for Marine Studies at the University and was one the researchers who first identified the causes of coral bleaching.

"We discovered the problem was related to a malfunction in the algae which live inside coral. This symbiotic relationship enables the coral to make limestone and build reefs," Professor Hoegh-Guldberg said.

"During the malfunction, the algae are literally spat out of the coral turning it from brown to white and resulting (in a majority of cases) in its decline and death. In 1998, bleaching occurred to every coral reef in the world prompting grave concern among governments."

He said another key strand of research for the new centre was rising sea temperatures - the main contributor to malfunctioning of coral-living algae.

"In collaboration with other research centres, I developed a model based on the rise in sea temperatures in the next 20 to 40 years. I found the rise, due to global warming, will be beyond what corals can tolerate. Seas will be warmed to such extent that coral reefs will bleach every year and may eventually die out as major ecosystems altogether," he said.

Other research areas concerned the magnificent colouration of corals and a patent had already been registered on the structure of coloured compounds, he said.

"These substances are completely non-toxic so there is keen industrial interest in their use in areas such as food colouring and as molecular markers," he said.

"Centre staff are also investigating marine animals such as the life cycles of estuarine fish in Moreton Bay and around Heron Island."

Formerly an Associate Professor of Biological Sciences at the University of Sydney and the Director of its One Tree Island Research Station, Professor Ove Hoegh-Guldberg has conducted many experiments at the UQ Heron Island Research Station over the years.

"An ongoing experiment there suggests extremely negative results of the sea warming up over the next 50 years especially on corals' reproduction or reproductive timing. In some cases, it causes them to spawn out of season severely affecting the ability of this unique structure to survive," he said.

Bringing almost $1 million in research funding with him to UQ, Professor Hoegh-Guldberg said he was attracted to work at the University because of its very dynamic and forward-thinking research environment.

"It is superior to other Australian universities offering many opportunities to develop especially in the molecular sciences. I am hoping that the new Institute for Molecular Bioscience (IMB) will be the source of many fruitful research collaborations," he said.

"I am also encouraged by the pro-active approach of the Queensland Government to science in general and in particular to the study of its magnificient coral reefs.

"The Centre will also collaborate with other universities on major marine science projects, including American universities."

The new centre is currently staffed by four academic staff members, four postdoctoral
research fellows as well as possessing links to researchers in many other University departments and centres.

"We already have 15 PhD students with the promise of 15 more by the end of 2001," Professor Hoegh-Guldberg said.

For more information, contact Professor Ove Hoegh-Guldberg (telephone 07 3365 2579) or Shirley Glaister in The Office of Marketing and Communications (telephone 07 3365 2339).