Abstract

The term 'assisted evolution' (AE) refers to a range of approaches that involve active intervention to accelerate the rate of naturally occurring evolutionary processes. These approaches aim to enhance certain attributes such as temperature tolerance, growth or reproduction.

Our goal is to enhance the resilience of corals to predicted future ocean scenarios of elevated temperature and acidification on the Great Barrier Reef.

AIMS researchers are examining a number of assisted evolution processes:

• Stress conditioning
• Assisted Gene Flow
• Hybridisation
• Modifications of algal symbiont communities
• Manipulations of other microbes such as bacteria
• Studies of gene function using novel techniques