Science underwater: 40,000 research samples of coral reefs, their microorganisms and environmental conditions were taken during the "Tara Pacific Expedition". Read more in the University of Konstanz’s online magazine "campus.kn". Image: Pete West

Climate change and the death of coral

“Tara Pacific Expedition”: Konstanz researcher on two-year scientific expedition to study coral

Coral reefs are the tropical rainforests of the oceans: They are home to about one third of the world’s marine diversity and a central factor for the marine ecosystem. Unfortunately, coral reefs are just as endangered as the rainforests. Because of climate change, coral species are now disappearing on a massive scale: An increase in water temperature of just one degree Celsius or more is enough to cause the extinction of coral over the course of this century.

On board the schooner Tara, a team of scientists travelled the Pacific Ocean for more than two years in order to research the living and survival conditions for coral. Professor Christian Voolstra was one of the coordinators for the Tara Pacific Expedition. He is Professor of Genetics of Adaptation in Aquatic Systems at the University of Konstanz.

Find the story of the “Tara Pacific Expedition” and the reasons for coral death as well as possible options for saving coral reefs in the University of Konstanz’s online magazine campus.kn.

Key facts:

  • “Tara Pacific Expedition”: Scientific expedition from 2016 to 2018 that sailed the Pacific Ocean in order to research the living and survival conditions for coral.
  • A total of 70 scientists from eight different countries took part in the expedition.
  • 40,000 research samples of coral reefs, their microorganisms and environmental conditions were taken during the expedition and will now be evaluated.
  • Co-coordinator of the “Tara Pacific Expedition”: Professor Christian Voolstra, Professor of Genetics of Adaptation in Aquatic Systems at the University of Konstanz.
  • Christian Voolstra participated in the scientific programme of the “Public Climate School”, a week of climate change events at the University of Konstanz from 25-29 November 2019. The weeklong event was organized by the local “Scientists4Future” and “Students4Future” groups: https://www.uni-konstanz.de/en/public-climate-school/
  • “Keyhole topics” are special news stories published in campus.kn, the University of Konstanz's online magazine: They make science come alive through multimedia story-telling.