Latest news with #MindarooFoundation
ABC News
08-06-2025
- Science
- ABC News
Selective breeding doubles heat tolerance of Ningaloo Reef coral, study finds
Unnatural selection has bred life in all shapes and sizes, and a globe-spanning team of scientists says the same practice might help save Western Australia's Ningaloo Reef. Mining billionaire Andrew "Twiggy" Forrest will share that finding at the United Nations Ocean Conference this week, after research backed by his philanthropic Mindaroo Foundation discovered that selective breeding could harden certain Indian Ocean corals against rising ocean temperatures. Kate Quigley, a molecular ecologist at the foundation's Exmouth laboratory, led the study. She said years of selective breeding trials had shown great promise for protecting the World Heritage site from coral bleaching. In the past summer alone, the reef faced widespread damage amid a record-breaking marine heatwave. But by manipulating its annual coral spawn, researchers claim they have confirmed a long-held hope. The new study re-engineers techniques first developed at the Great Barrier Reef. Samples of two Acropora coral species were taken from two sections of the Ningaloo Reef, separated by more than 100 kilometres. "We collected parent corals, so 'mum' and 'dad' corals from an on-average hot reef," Dr Quigley said. "Then, we also went down south to the southern part of Ningaloo Reef and collected what we call 'cool' parents. Alexandra Kler Lago, a master's student from the University of Bremen in Germany, said coral "matchmaking" came with "some pressure". Transporting fragile organisms from the southern tip of the world's largest fringing reef required a specially designed boat. "We had to develop these coolers with a pumping system to keep the water at a stable temperature," Ms Kler Lago said. Although the journey from the reef's more accessible northern colonies was passable by road, that too brought challenges. "We actually had to go to the shallow part with buckets and then carry them filled with water to the trucks," she said. The white-knuckle drive home aside, the breeding process was ultimately an exercise in extreme patience. "All the spawning happens at night, so if we shine a big bright light, that might disturb and hinder the whole process," Ms Kler Lago said. "We have to watch, look at buckets for hours, and look at specific cues that can tell us that breeding is imminent. When "the big night" arrived, Dr Quigley described sorting gametes, or egg and sperm bundles, into groups and allowing them to produce offspring. "We reared up these baby corals to essentially become teenager corals, and we put them through a stress test," she said. Repeated experiments suggested Acropora tenuis, a structural coral found throughout Ningaloo, with at least one "hot" parent and particularly a 'mum' possessed twice the ability to survive temperatures of 35.5 degrees Celsius than other genetic combinations. Australian Institute of Marine Science principal research scientist Chris Fulton said selective breeding was one possible solution for safeguarding the Ningaloo Reef. "We need to protect those corals … that have been robust and have resisted this heatwave event, so they have the best chance possible to repopulate the reef with a new warm-adapted … more resilient coral population." Dr Fulton returned from a trip to the World Heritage site earlier this month. He said water temperatures were only now beginning to drop. "This is the first time we've seen every part of the WA coast show signs of coral bleaching … it has been so hot for so long, over such a large scale that we obviously need to act on emissions reduction." Dr Quigley said further research was needed before attempting to grow heat-resistant corals in vulnerable parts of the reef. She echoed calls for carbon emissions reduction, saying conservation strategies such as selective breeding could only work "hand in hand" with climate policy. "We absolutely need emissions reductions to happen immediately in order for these techniques to have a meaningful impact," she said.
West Australian
22-04-2025
- Politics
- West Australian
Pope Francis: Andrew Forrest, Tony Galati, Basil Zempilas and Archbishop of Perth reflect on meetings
As the world comes to terms with the death of Pope Francis, some high-profile WA people lucky enough to meet the Pontiff recalled their encounters with the religious leader. Mining magnate Andrew Forrest met the Pope in March 2014 and said he left behind a legacy as one of history's most powerful voices influencing the abolition of modern slavery. 'His unrelenting leadership in the fight against modern slavery will pave the way for those who come after him as we strive to stamp out this most wicked form of abuse of our fellow humans. For this, I am eternally grateful,' he said in a statement via the Mindaroo Foundation. 'Indeed, Pope Francis further broke the mould with his clear and unequivocal stance on the science of climate change, viewing it as a moral issue and repeatedly calling for urgent action from world leaders. It would have been far easier for His Holiness not to take up this fight – a fight that will prove to be humanity's greatest – but he was a man of courage and character.' Spud king Tony Galati met the Pope during a visit to the Vatican in October last year, where he got to shake his hand and say hello. The Spudshed boss wanted to meet the Catholic leader on behalf of his mother, who was 'really religious' and sadly passed away five years ago. 'It was quite an experience to see because he was very sick. I wasn't too sure he was going to come out, but he made the effort. And it was just amazing to see this man talk to everybody and acknowledge everybody,' he told ABC Radio. 'It was just amazing to be in his presence. 'I looked up and said, 'I did it for you, Mum'.' Opposition Leader Basil Zempilas, who travelled to the Vatican in May last year for a global energy and climate summit, felt privileged to meet the Pope. 'I will always remember his soft hands, warm smile and his acknowledgement of Perth and the long distance I had travelled to be there,' Mr Zempilas said. 'He had an amazing aura. It's a brief meeting I will forever remember.' And no stranger to the Pope's 'good sense of humour' is Archbishop of Perth Timothy Costello who has met him at least five times, most recently in October last year. 'When he speaks to you, you can see that he's interested in what you're saying,' he said. 'He's strong but gentle and has a great sense of humour, so there are some really, really good memories for me.'
Perth Now
22-04-2025
- Business
- Perth Now
WA personalities Twiggy, Galati ‘privileged' to meet Pope
As the world comes to terms with the death of Pope Francis, some high-profile WA people lucky enough to meet the Pontiff recalled their encounters with the religious leader. Mining magnate Andrew Forrest met the Pope in March 2014 and said he left behind a legacy as one of history's most powerful voices influencing the abolition of modern slavery. 'His unrelenting leadership in the fight against modern slavery will pave the way for those who come after him as we strive to stamp out this most wicked form of abuse of our fellow humans. For this, I am eternally grateful,' he said in a statement via the Mindaroo Foundation. 'Indeed, Pope Francis further broke the mould with his clear and unequivocal stance on the science of climate change, viewing it as a moral issue and repeatedly calling for urgent action from world leaders. It would have been far easier for His Holiness not to take up this fight – a fight that will prove to be humanity's greatest – but he was a man of courage and character.' Spud king Tony Galati met the Pope during a visit to the Vatican in October last year, where he got to shake his hand and say hello. The Spudshed boss wanted to meet the Catholic leader on behalf of his mother, who was 'really religious' and sadly passed away five years ago. 'It was quite an experience to see because he was very sick. I wasn't too sure he was going to come out, but he made the effort. And it was just amazing to see this man talk to everybody and acknowledge everybody,' he told ABC Radio. Australian mining magnate Andrew Forrest shakes hands with Pope Francis at the Vatican. Credit: GB / AP 'It was just amazing to be in his presence. 'I looked up and said, 'I did it for you, Mum'.' Opposition Leader Basil Zempilas, who travelled to the Vatican in May last year for a global energy and climate summit, felt privileged to meet the Pope. 'I will always remember his soft hands, warm smile and his acknowledgement of Perth and the long distance I had travelled to be there,' Mr Zempilas said. Basil Zempilas meeting Pope Francis/ Credit: Basil Zempilas / Supplied 'He had an amazing aura. It's a brief meeting I will forever remember.' And no stranger to the Pope's 'good sense of humour' is Archbishop of Perth Timothy Costello who has met him at least five times, most recently in October last year. 'When he speaks to you, you can see that he's interested in what you're saying,' he said. 'He's strong but gentle and has a great sense of humour, so there are some really, really good memories for me.'
