Racing to Save Dying Coral Reefs

While they might be easily mistaken for rocks or plants, coral reefs are actually colonies of animals. These small but mighty creatures cover only a percent of the ocean floor, yet they constitute one of Earth’s oldest and most important ecosystems—serving as home sweet home to a dizzying array of sea life, protecting our coastlines from violent storms and supporting the algae that produce 50% to 85% of our planet’s oxygen. But climate change threatens every one of coral’s 800-plus species, all of which reproduce very infrequently. To fight back, Mary Hagedorn created the ocean’s first fertility clinic—a global effort equipped with cryopreservation technology and a determined team of scientists.

This is the third story in our latest series, “The Brave,” all about the incredible people protecting our Great Big Planet.

SUBSCRIBE: https://goo.gl/vR6Acb

#Brave #Sustainability #Conservation

Got a story idea for us? Shoot us an email at hey [at] GreatBigStory [dot] com

Follow us behind the scenes on Instagram: http://goo.gl/2KABeX
Make our acquaintance on Facebook: http://goo.gl/Vn0XIZ
Give us a shout on Twitter: http://goo.gl/sY1GLY
Come hang with us on Vimeo: http://goo.gl/T0OzjV
Visit our world directly: http://www.greatbigstory.com