Corals are marine invertebrates that live in colonies and secrete a hard exoskeleton. They are important members of marine ecosystems, providing food and shelter for a variety of organisms. However, corals are under threat from ocean warming, which can cause them to bleach and die.

One way that corals can cope with ocean warming is to swap for heat-resistant varieties of algae. Algae are single-celled organisms that live in symbiosis with corals, providing them with food through photosynthesis. When ocean temperatures rise, the algae can become stressed and produce harmful toxins that can kill the coral. However, some varieties of algae are more heat-resistant than others, and corals that swap for these varieties are more likely to survive in warmer waters.

Models show that corals that swap for heat-resistant varieties of algae are more resistant to ocean warming. These models predict that corals that make this switch could survive in waters that are up to 2 degrees Celsius warmer than corals that do not make the switch. This could give corals a chance to adapt to changing ocean conditions and survive in the future.

However, it is important to note that swapping for heat-resistant varieties of algae is not a perfect solution. These algae may not be as efficient at providing food for corals, and they may make corals more susceptible to other stressors, such as pollution or disease. Therefore, it is important to continue to take steps to reduce ocean warming and protect coral reefs.