S1 E3: Can Corals Survive Climate Change? With Dr Kate Quigley

What is the limit of coral resilience? To help us unpack this question, this week we're joined by Dr Kate Quigley, a molecular ecologist who has spent years studying corals up close 🪸. Lately, Kate has been selectively breeding corals to try and increase their heat tolerance 🫠 - a race against time as the Reef starts to show the first signs of coral bleaching for 2024.

Together, we break down the 2024 mass bleaching event, why some corals are more sensitive than others, what really happens when corals bleach, and how long they can hang on before it's too late. Most importantly, we discuss what you can do to help protect these underwater wonders.

Whether you're a seasoned diver or a curious listener, this episode will deepen your understanding of coral life—and what's at stake in a warming world.

Chapters

• 2:23 What is Kate Quigley's favourite snorkelling spot on the GBR?
• 2:45 Kate Quigley's favorite coral
• 4:24 Why should we care about corals?
• 7:56 The 2024 coral bleaching event
• 10:57 Which species of coral are most sensitive to heat stress?
• 13:06 At what temperature does coral bleaching occur?
• 16:47 The discovery of coral spawning
• 19:26 What's the difference between bleached coral and dead coral?
• 21:44 How long can a coral survive in a bleached state before dying?
• 23:38 What is the limit of coral resilience?
• 25:34 What can people do to help protect coral reefs?