Keisha Bahr
Corals as Indicators of Change
About the Speaker
Corals serve as great ocean sensors because they are extremely sensitive to environmental change. Corals host microscopic algae, which they rely on for their food. Unfavorable environmental conditions can cause the relationship between the coral and their microscopic algae to break down, a process called coral bleaching, leaving the coral to starve and potentially die if favorable conditions and their microscopic algae do not return. With more than 90% of marine organisms’ dependent on coral reefs, their extinction can cause an avalanche of population declines and extinctions. Therefore, corals are essentially a 'canary in the coal mine' - advance warning of severe danger. Dr. Keisha Bahr is an Assistant Professor in Marine Biology at Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi. Dr. Bahrʻs research program addresses problems facing marine systems at local (e.g., eutrophication, sedimentation) and global (e.g., coral bleaching, ocean warming, acidification) scales. She has over nine years of experience collaborating with academic, government, and non-governmental institutions to develop the knowledge and tools to restore, preserve, and manage our coral reef ecosystems. With the increase in frequency and severity of coral bleaching events, Dr. Bahr and her team have developed a coral health assessment card to help quantify coral bleaching, assess coral resilience, and educate the community about its impacts in Hawai‘i. Results of this work have been integrated into the management strategies of the local state agency and have increased capacity for coral reef management through applied research. You can learn more about Dr. Keisha Bahr www.keishabahr.com