Tara Coral 2026-2028

Tara will remain 35 days at each of the 10 planned sampling sites, and the scientific teams will adopt a holistic approach to the ecosystem, focusing on four coral genera (with complementary analyses to characterize the biodiversity at large) : Acropora, Millepora, Porites, and Pocillopora.

A comprehensive approach is essential in order to understand which species exist, how they adapt, and how they interact with each other and with their environment. To this end, the scientific work is organized into four components supported by a comprehensive, multi-method field protocol.

Description of the environmental context

Environmental DNA (eDNA) sampling to describe the overall biodiversity of the reef using a sampling robot, and photogrammetry to describe the 3D structure of the reef.

Characterization of the complexity of the coral holobiont

Extensive sampling of coral species and associated habitats (coral fragments, algae, sediments, water, aerosols, and sponges) to generate diverse datasets that resolve holobiont structure and function, with a particular focus on symbiosis.

Characterization of heat stress resistance

Using a CBASS (Coral Bleaching Automated Stress System) system installed on board Tara, coral fragments from various colonies are placed in separate tanks and exposed to four different temperature levels (no heat stress, low, moderate, or high heat stress) in order to test the resistance of corals to heat stress and detect biomarkers of corals that are more resistant to bleaching. This provides a standardized diagnostic heat stress phenotype.

Geochemistry for paleoclimate and paleogenomics

Coring of massive corals to quantify growth parameters, reconstruct past climate, and analyze long-term genomic responses.

One of the unique features of the Tara Coral expedition is its comprehensive scientific approach, which brings together a range of scientific expertise: divers, oceanographers, marine biologists, eDNA specialists, genomicists, bioinformaticians, microbiologists, photogrammetry specialists, microplastics specialists, paleoclimatologists, biochemists, modellers, and many others. 

Tara Coral is the result of close local collaboration involving 67 scientists, 22 women and 45 men, from more than 40 scientific partners, including 11 from the Coral Triangle.

Strengthening conservation policies at the international level

Conservation issues will be given high priority by working alongside governments and local stakeholders to identify and protect those reefs that are most resistant to global warming. The Tara Ocean Foundation will organize several science-to-policy workshops during Tara Coral’s stopovers and will actively participate in international summits working to conserve coral reefs.