Climate change may be throwing coral sex out of sync

Spawning is out of whack for at least three species in the Red Sea, researchers say

coral reef environment

While spawning, some corals release masses of plump, pink egg-sperm bundles simultaneously across a reef tantalizing snacks for fish. But warmer seawater temperatures may be throwing off the timing of those synchronized releases.

T. Shlesinger

Bad timing for coral sex might be an underappreciated threat of climate change.