[Interview] The ripple effect: Prof Inga Conti-Jerpe's call to action for coral and marine conservation
"My research is primarily investigating how corals eat, which is directly related to their resistance to climate change," says Prof Inga Conti-Jerpe, Assistant Professor of Lingnan University’s Science Unit.
Her project, titled "Calibrating the mixotrophy spectrum: quantifying nutrient inputs and recycling in three corals with different trophic strategies", is the largest of its kind, receiving nearly HK$1.28 million in funding, the highest Research Grants Council funding for Lingnan scholars in 2024.
According to Prof Conti-Jerpe, as global temperatures rise corals get very stressed, leading to a distressing phenomenon known as bleaching, where they lose their vibrant colours and turn bright white. Prolonged bleaching can ultimately prove fatal for these essential organisms.
"Corals do not like high temperatures," she notes. Bleaching has become more common around the world, particularly during the warm summer months. “My research indicates that corals capable of feeding on plankton and suspended particles in the sea water take longer to bleach. In contrast, certain species that are more dependent on algae living within them—acting as a sort of plant that feeds the coral—are the most susceptible to bleaching.”
Prof Inga Conti-Jerpe, Assistant Professor in the Science Unit at Lingnan University, indicates through her research that corals capable of feeding on plankton and suspended particles in sea water take longer to bleach.
By understanding the factors that enable corals to resist bleaching, researchers can identify the most resilient species for restoration efforts. Additionally, there may be opportunities to intervene by providing supplemental food to support coral health. This approach serves as a stopgap measure to help preserve certain coral species and reefs in the face of ongoing climate change.
Through understanding the biology of these animals better, we can improve mitigation plans, the policy that we have surrounding these actions, and make better choices when we try to conserve and restore these ecosystems.
Climate change poses a significant threat to ecosystems worldwide, and Prof Conti-Jerpe urges students to take action by eating less beef, citing research that indicates this is the most effective action an individual can take. “I also enjoy eating beef," she says, "but I try to only to eat beef on special occasions or when I am travelling to places known for exceptional beef dishes."
By changing our diet, we can help save all types of ecosystems.
"You can have a positive impact on all the ecosystems," Prof Inga Conti-Jerpe concludes.
Interviewed by Bryce Tang, OIAPA student reporter
Video produced by Kristina Kee, OIAPA student reporter