CoralMath · MATHEMATICAL MODELS FOR CORAL REEFS: TOWARDS AN INTERDISCIPLINARY AND CONSERVATION-FOCUSED RESEARCH
Horizon Europe — Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions
- Duration
- 2023-09-01 → 2026-02-28
- EU contribution
- €236,500
- Participants
- 2
- Scheme
- HORIZON-TMA-MSCA-PF-GF
Lines connect the coordinator with its partners.
Results in brief
MATHEMATICAL MODELS FOR CORAL REEFS: TOWARDS AN INTERDISCIPLINARY AND CONSERVATION-FOCUSED RESEARCH
Coral reefs are among the most biodiverse ecosystems on the planet, yet they are rapidly declining due to global warming and local anthropogenic pressures. This interdisciplinary project applies non-linear physics and complex systems modeling to improve our understanding of coral reef dynamics and inform marine conservation strategies.By combining ecological knowledge with methods from statistical mechanics, non-equilibrium systems, and numerical simulations, the project develops scalable models of coral growth and reef-scale interactions. These models bridge spatial scales—from individual coral colonies to entire reef structures—and offer new theoretical insights into coral self-organization and spatial pattern formation. Two main applications are addressed: the formation of grazing halos—circular bare zones around reefs driven by herbivory—modeled as emergent spatial phenomena to evaluate reef health; and the optimization of coral restoration efforts by identifying spatial configurations that enhance survival and reduce costs. The outcomes support evidence-based strategies for conservation and restoration, contributing to the goals of the EU Biodiversity Strategy for 2030 by promoting the sustainable management of marine ecosystems and enhancing coastal resilience.
Data: CORDIS, © European Union
Project objective
Coral reefs are one of the most biologically diverse ecosystems on Earth, but their regression has largely increased in the last decades due to local human pressures and global warming. This project aims to use numerical models and simulations to expand our understanding of coral reefs' dynamics and improve marine conservation strategies. I will follow an interdisciplinary approach, using complex systems and non-linear physics techniques combined with ecological knowledge and field data of coral reef systems. My results will be the foundation to study a large variety of open questions in coral reef science using an innovative and ground-breaking point of view. In this project, I will focus on two applications of the models: i) the study of the underlying mechanisms causing the emergence of halo-like patterns around reef islands (grazing halos) and ii) the construction of a protocol to optimize and reduce costs in coral restoration programs. I expect my results to have a high impact on the scientific community and contribute to making better and more informed decisions about the sustainable management of coastal zones, in line with the new EU Biodiversity Strategy for 2030 - a comprehensive, ambitious, long-term plan for protecting nature and reversing the degradation of ecosystems aiming to put Europe's biodiversity on a path to recovery by 2030 with benefits for people, the climate and the planet.
Original text from CORDIS.
Participants
- UNIVERSITAT DE LES ILLES BALEARS · PALMA DE MALLORCACoordinatorSpain
- UNIVERSITY OF HAWAII · HonoluluUnited States
Links
- View on CORDIS
- DOI: 10.3030/101063295
- https://ec.europa.eu/research/participants/documents/downloadPublic?documentIds=080166e50d3e40ac&appId=PPGMS
- https://ec.europa.eu/research/participants/documents/downloadPublic?documentIds=080166e529de3eec&appId=PPGMS
Data: CORDIS, © European Union