Researchers use medical ultrasound to detect eggs inside living coral

Coral Spawning International researchers used a Canon medical ultrasound scanner to observe developing eggs inside submerged living coral, New Atlas reported. The experiment scanned six species with protected high- and ultra-high-frequency probes on an Aplio i700 hospital platform. The team checked scans of Trachyphyllia geoffroyi against photographs of dissected tissue and said the comparison confirmed visible egg development. Detecting reproductive status without cutting coral could help restoration groups select colonies for sexual breeding, which adds genetic diversity. Only that species has been checked against the destructive method, and the results have not been peer reviewed. Six months of monitoring will test whether scans can predict spawning.