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UZELA technology enhances baby coral growth and survivorship

September 12, 2025

UZELA technology enhances baby coral growth and survivorship

Graduate student Shannon Dixon scuba diving on a Hawaiian reef.
Graduate student Shannon Dixon scuba diving on a Hawaiian reef.
Experimental setup on the reef in Hawaii.
Experimental setup on the reef in Hawaii.

New study by the Grottoli team graduate student Shannon Dixon published in the journal Environmental Science and Technology shows that UZELA technology doubles baby coral survivorship and quadruples their growth. The Underwater Zooplankton Enhancement Light Array (UZELA) is a patent pending programmable and submersible light that attracts and locally concentrates natural zooplankton, giving corals more to eat. Previous research on adult corals showed that corals that eat more tend to be healthier and more resilient in the face of environmental stress. This study suggests that UZELA may be a good technological device to increase coral restoration efficacy by ensuring that more corals survive and grow more.

 

 

Graphical abstract of research findings.
Graphical abstract of research findings.