Hawaii coral larvae settled on bacteria-coated concrete, not bare blocks

A reef may be built from concrete and carefully engineered structures, but for young marine life, it appears that the right soundtrack could matter too. In Hawaiʻi, scientists have been experimenting with an unusual approach to reef restoration, playing the sounds of a healthy coral reef underwater and combining them with artificial structures designed to provide the biological cues young corals need to settle. The results offer an intriguing new direction for rebuilding damaged reefs, although researchers stress that attracting larvae is only an early step toward creating a functioning ecosystem.Turning up the reef soundsAccording to Nature, the experiment took place in Kāneʻohe Bay, off Oʻahu, where researchers placed 37 artificial structures on a sandy seafloor at depths of about 4.5 metres.