Bleached corals thrive within days when touching healthy neighbour

A study has found that when bleached corals come into contact with healthy coral tissue, they begin to recover within days. Researchers from the University of California, Santa Barbara, and the University of Western Australia found that the healthy coral tissue can transfer nutrients and energy to the bleached coral, promoting its recovery. The study involved transplanting healthy coral tissue onto bleached coral colonies and monitoring their progress over a period of 14 days. The results showed that the bleached corals began to recover within 3-4 days, with a significant increase in coral health and growth after 7-10 days. The researchers believe that this discovery could have significant implications for coral reef conservation efforts.