{"id":2306,"date":"2026-08-27T15:22:43","date_gmt":"2026-08-27T15:22:43","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/currents.bigelow.org\/?p=2306"},"modified":"2026-08-27T15:23:09","modified_gmt":"2026-08-27T15:23:09","slug":"caring-for-corals","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/currents.bigelow.org\/?p=2306","title":{"rendered":"Caring for Corals"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{&quot;galleryId&quot;:&quot;6a9106c908a79&quot;}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/gallery\" class=\"wp-block-gallery has-nested-images columns-default is-cropped wp-block-gallery-1 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex\">\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{&quot;imageId&quot;:&quot;6a9106c90d8fb&quot;}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6a9106c90d8fb\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"683\" height=\"1024\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-id=\"2309\" src=\"https:\/\/currents.bigelow.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/2026-08-25-3-683x1024.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-2309\" srcset=\"https:\/\/currents.bigelow.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/2026-08-25-3-683x1024.png 683w, https:\/\/currents.bigelow.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/2026-08-25-3-200x300.png 200w, https:\/\/currents.bigelow.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/2026-08-25-3-768x1152.png 768w, https:\/\/currents.bigelow.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/2026-08-25-3-500x750.png 500w, https:\/\/currents.bigelow.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/2026-08-25-3.png 800w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 683px) 100vw, 683px\" \/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Coral samples collected for analysis (Credit: Laura Lubelczyk\/Bigelow Laboratory).<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{&quot;imageId&quot;:&quot;6a9106c90e3d7&quot;}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6a9106c90e3d7\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"683\" height=\"1024\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-id=\"2307\" src=\"https:\/\/currents.bigelow.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/2026-08-25-1-683x1024.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-2307\" srcset=\"https:\/\/currents.bigelow.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/2026-08-25-1-683x1024.png 683w, https:\/\/currents.bigelow.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/2026-08-25-1-200x300.png 200w, https:\/\/currents.bigelow.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/2026-08-25-1-768x1152.png 768w, https:\/\/currents.bigelow.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/2026-08-25-1-500x750.png 500w, https:\/\/currents.bigelow.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/2026-08-25-1.png 800w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 683px) 100vw, 683px\" \/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Bigelow Laboratory Research Associate Laura Lubelczyk performs sampling (Credit:&nbsp;<em>Sierra Sarkis\/NOAA NCCOS<\/em>).<br><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<figure data-wp-context=\"{&quot;imageId&quot;:&quot;6a9106c90ec0f&quot;}\" data-wp-interactive=\"core\/image\" data-wp-key=\"6a9106c90ec0f\" class=\"wp-block-image size-large wp-lightbox-container\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"683\" data-wp-class--hide=\"state.isContentHidden\" data-wp-class--show=\"state.isContentVisible\" data-wp-init=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\" data-wp-on--load=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-wp-on--pointerdown=\"actions.preloadImage\" data-wp-on--pointerenter=\"actions.preloadImageWithDelay\" data-wp-on--pointerleave=\"actions.cancelPreload\" data-wp-on-window--resize=\"callbacks.setButtonStyles\" data-id=\"2310\" src=\"https:\/\/currents.bigelow.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/2026-08-25-1024x683.png\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-2310\" srcset=\"https:\/\/currents.bigelow.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/2026-08-25-1024x683.png 1024w, https:\/\/currents.bigelow.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/2026-08-25-300x200.png 300w, https:\/\/currents.bigelow.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/2026-08-25-768x512.png 768w, https:\/\/currents.bigelow.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/2026-08-25-500x333.png 500w, https:\/\/currents.bigelow.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/08\/2026-08-25.png 1200w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><button\n\t\t\tclass=\"lightbox-trigger\"\n\t\t\ttype=\"button\"\n\t\t\taria-haspopup=\"dialog\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-bind--aria-label=\"state.thisImage.triggerButtonAriaLabel\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-init=\"callbacks.initTriggerButton\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-on--click=\"actions.showLightbox\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--right=\"state.thisImage.buttonRight\"\n\t\t\tdata-wp-style--top=\"state.thisImage.buttonTop\"\n\t\t>\n\t\t\t<svg xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"12\" height=\"12\" fill=\"none\" viewBox=\"0 0 12 12\">\n\t\t\t\t<path fill=\"#fff\" d=\"M2 0a2 2 0 0 0-2 2v2h1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 1 .5-.5h2V0H2Zm2 10.5H2a.5.5 0 0 1-.5-.5V8H0v2a2 2 0 0 0 2 2h2v-1.5ZM8 12v-1.5h2a.5.5 0 0 0 .5-.5V8H12v2a2 2 0 0 1-2 2H8Zm2-12a2 2 0 0 1 2 2v2h-1.5V2a.5.5 0 0 0-.5-.5H8V0h2Z\" \/>\n\t\t\t<\/svg>\n\t\t<\/button><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\">Corals living in a deep-sea habitat impacted by the&nbsp;<em>Deepwater Horizon<\/em>&nbsp;spill (Credit:&nbsp;<em>NOAA, National Marine Sanctuary Foundation, UNCW UVP<\/em>).<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Earlier this summer <strong>Bigelow Laboratory&nbsp;<\/strong>Research Associate Laura Lubelczyk joined&nbsp;<strong>NOAA<\/strong> on a research cruise supporting efforts to restore mesophotic coral communities impacted by the <strong>Deepwater Horizon disaster. <\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Laura applied the principles of <strong>flow cytometry<\/strong> to help researchers better understand what these enigmatic animals like to eat.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Using a device called a <strong>FlowCam<\/strong>, Laura, a research associate at the <strong>Center for Aquatic Cytometry<\/strong>, was able to produce thousands of magnified images from a single drop of seawater during the research cruise. She also collected samples that will be analyzed with a <strong>flow cytometer<\/strong> back in the lab this fall.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The ultimate goal is to help aquariums and labs better care for corals so they can be <strong>transplanted back into the wild<\/strong> as part of <strong>long-term restoration efforts.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-buttons is-content-justification-center is-layout-flex wp-container-core-buttons-is-layout-3e41869c wp-block-buttons-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-button\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link has-text-align-center has-medium-font-size has-custom-font-size wp-element-button\" href=\"https:\/\/www.bigelow.org\/news\/articles\/2026-08-25.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Read the Full Story<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Earlier this summer Bigelow Laboratory&nbsp;Research Associate Laura Lubelczyk joined&nbsp;NOAA on a research cruise supporting efforts to restore mesophotic coral communities impacted by the Deepwater Horizon disaster. Laura applied the principles of flow cytometry to help researchers better understand what these enigmatic animals like to eat. Using a device called a FlowCam, Laura, a research associate [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":2308,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":"","css_class_manager_body_classes":"","css_class_manager_use_in_post_loop":false},"categories":[11],"tags":[70],"class_list":["post-2306","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-science-ocean-function","tag-flow-cytometry"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/currents.bigelow.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2306","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/currents.bigelow.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/currents.bigelow.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/currents.bigelow.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/currents.bigelow.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=2306"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/currents.bigelow.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2306\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2312,"href":"https:\/\/currents.bigelow.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2306\/revisions\/2312"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/currents.bigelow.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/2308"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/currents.bigelow.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=2306"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/currents.bigelow.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=2306"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/currents.bigelow.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=2306"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}