Prof. Tali Mass from the Department of Marine Biology recently returned from an exciting research visit to Moorea, French Polynesia. The visit was part of groundbreaking research led by PhD student Pierrick Harnay, who is studying Pocillopora corals under a prestigious BSF (U.S.-Israel Binational Science Foundation) Climate Solutions grant.
Over the past month, the research team began their days early—at 5:00 AM—to document coral spawning and collect eggs and sperm for experiments. The study focuses on pressing global questions: how different coral species adapt to climate change and shifting environmental conditions, such as ocean warming and acidification.
Pierrick, who will remain on the island throughout the semester, has already achieved a significant milestone by documenting, for the first time, the reproduction of four different coral species in the region—a remarkable scientific breakthrough.
The research is conducted in collaboration with Dr. Hollie Putnam from the University of Rhode Island and is a key part of the lab’s mission to better understand how corals face the environmental challenges of the 21st century.
These achievements underscore our commitment to advancing scientific solutions for ocean sustainability and preserving marine ecosystems.
