Florida Aquarium launches first coral spawning since record-breaking ocean heatwave last summer

The Florida Aquarium’s Coral Conservation Research Center is launching a coral spawning season for the first time since last summer, when a record-breaking ocean heatwave threatened the species.

The season begins after aquarium biologists observed grooved brain coral initiating spawning for the sixth year at the aquarium. With spawning underway, scientists can predict when the species will spawn in the lab and share data with field researchers to determine when to watch for such spawning in the wild.

Eight species are expected to spawn through September at the aquarium, including elkhorn, which lost about 80% of its population, and staghorn.

– Janelle Irwin, Florida Politics