CARBONDALE, Ill. (KFVS) – Students and researchers at Southern Illinois University Carbondale are working hard to grow coral to help save natural ecosystems and learn more about breeding marine life.

Researchers are growing coral that they say could improve methods of supplying ornamental corals for home aquariums.

The work they do could help reduce pressure on natural coral reefs.

They say coral reefs are vital to marine ecosystems because they provide food and shelter for marine life.

Researchers came up with the idea about a decade ago, as construction began on the Saluki Aquarium.

“Corals are in danger globally. But what may also surprise many people is that there is a huge trade in ornamental corals around the world,” said Jim Garvey, director of the center.

“Only a fraction of the corals are farmed, with the rest harvested from reefs,” he said. “We built the coral farm in Saluki Aquarium to test fundamental and applied questions about coral growth and survival to improve coral aquaculture and reduce pressure on wild reefs.”

The Saluki Aquarium currently houses approximately 10,000 gallons of research and display tanks, according to the school.

Officials say they hope to expand the facility, including a 9,000-gallon marine exhibit and an educational aquarium.

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