The state of coral reefs in the Pacific Ocean assessed by Tara Pacific

The Tara Pacific project, a pioneering scientific expedition aboard the schooner Tara, investigated the resilience of coral reefs across the Pacific Ocean by studying coral ecosystems at an unprecedented scale. From 2016 to 2018, the mission collected over 36,000 samples from 32 islands and archipelagos, covering 40,000 km. Using a multi-disciplinary approach integrating genomics, oceanography, and ecology, Tara Pacific mapped the complex interactions between corals and their environments, focusing on the genetic and functional diversity that underpins coral resilience to stressors like climate change. Key findings have revealed genetic and symbiotic diversity as crucial factors for coral adaptation to temperature and acidity fluctuations. The project also underscored the central role of microbiomes in coral health, resilience, and recovery. Advanced molecular techniques unveiled new insights into coral-algal symbioses and microbial dynamics, highlighting potential biomarkers for assessing coral health under environmental pressures. The comprehensive data set created through Tara Pacific provides an open-access resource, fueling further research into marine biodiversity and ecosystem management. This work underscores the importance of large-scale, integrated marine research efforts in predicting and mitigating the impacts of global change on coral reefs, a critical yet vulnerable component of marine ecosystems, and for the characterization of novel marine genetic resources.