Corals already have the genes to adapt to warmer oceans – images

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Far Nothern GBR_by LK Bay — Far Northern Great Barrier Reef. Reefs around the world are threatened by climate change. A new study shows that some corals have the genes to adapt to warmer oceans. Credit: Line K Bay, AIMS

Diver surveys FN GBR_by_Ray Berkelmans AIMS — Line Bay surveys temperature-tolerant corals in the Far Northern Great Barrier Reef. Credit: Ray Berkelmans AIMS

Where space is limited and occupied by fast-growing corals like staghorn and plate corals, colonies often 'engulf' or overtop each other. Scarring where the two colonies touch indicates active competition among individuals. — Reefs around the world are threatened by climate change. A new study shows that some corals have the genes to adapt to warmer oceans. Credit: Ray Berkelmans, AIMS

Line Bay of AIMS is part of the international team that found a genetic basis to temperature tolerance in coral. Credit: AIMS — Line Bay of AIMS is part of an international team that found a genetic basis to temperature tolerance in coral. Credit: AIMS

Reef scenes from the Great Barrier Reef. If corals can evolve higher temperature tolerances their future under climate change is much improved. Credit: Line K Bay, AIMS

In 2005 this bommie was devoid of coral after a large cyclone crossed over. Six years later there are many medium-sized recruits, all about the same size, which will soon form close to 100% coral cover. — Reef scenes from the Great Barrier Reef. If corals can evolve higher temperature tolerances their future under climate change is much improved. Credit: Line K Bay, AIMS

###_VARIED_### Snorkellers on a beautiful reef with abundant plating acropora. Mirror-calm day on the outer GBR. — Reef scenes from the Great Barrier Reef. If corals can evolve higher temperature tolerances their future under climate change is much improved. Credit: Ray Berkelmans AIMS

Inshore reefs in the far northern GBR have avoided declines seen elsewhere on the GBR in the last 27 years — Reef scenes from the Great Barrier Reef. If corals can evolve higher temperature tolerances their future under climate change is much improved. Credit: Line K Bay, AIMS

A.millepora_adult_closeup - Mikhail — Close-up of adult coral (A. millepora). Credit: Mikhail Matz, The University of Texas at Austin

Amillepora by LK Bay — Branching coral is a common coral on Australian reefs. A new study shows it has the genes to adapt to warmer oceans. Credit: Line K Bay, AIMS

A.millepora_westChannel_Palau - Mikhail — Branching coral at West Channel, Palau. Credit: Mikhail Matz, The University of Texas at Austin

A.millepora_fluorescent_larvae - Mikhail — Fluorescent larvae of A. millepora coral. Credit: Mikhail Matz, The University of Texas at Austin

3 morphs Amillepora_by LKBay — Branching coral is common on Australian coral reefs and has several colour morphs – seen together here is a red, yellow and green colony. Credit: Line K Bay, AIMS