A new study conducted by the Southampton University sheds some light on the subject of how corals can use their chromoproteins (pigments) to protect themselves from high levels of light. In areas of the natural reef where low tides and shallow waters expose corals to extreme levels of light corals have adapted a method of screening themselves from the harmful light produced by our sun. In this study scientists have theorized that the chromoprotein colors pink and purple can reduce the amount of light absorbed by the coral by breaking down the spectrum; the light dependent symbiotic algae (zooxanthellae) living within the coral is thus protected by the chromoproteins.  Dr Jorg Wiedenmann posits: “GFP-like proteins were suggested to contribute to the protection of corals and their symbionts from excess sunlight. This hypothesis has been controversially discussed as the mechanism as to how these pigments function remained unclear. At least for the chromoproteins we know now that they have indeed the capacity to fulfill this function.” Dr Wiedenmann’s findings are extremely interesting when discussing the phenomenon of how corals seem to accumulate higher levels of chromoproteins in areas of growth: “These growing areas contain essentially no symbiotic algae, so much of the light is reflected by the white coral skeleton instead of being used by the algae. The resulting increased light intensities in the new parts of the coral represent a potential danger for the algal cells that need to colonize these areas. Hence, it seems that the corals use a clever trick to help their symbionts. The higher light intensity switches on the genes that are responsible for the production of the sunscreening chromoproteins. This study adds to the knowledge of stress resilience in coral and is a contribution to the fight against anthropogenic instabilities. Read more here!