A research project led by Griffith University is demonstrating that the union between architecture and ecology can play a decisive role in coral reef recovery. The objective was to identify the ideal surface geometry for the attachment and initial growth of coral larvae — a critical stage in the life cycle of these marine organisms.
Just as a newborn needs proper conditions to survive, coral larvae also require a specific environment to anchor themselves and begin their development. For days or weeks, they remain suspended in the water column until they encounter an appropriate surface, where they undergo metamorphosis and give rise to new colonies.
The study, conducted with the support of the Australian company Monsoon Aquatics, was led by researcher Despina Linaraki, from the School of Engineering and Built Environment at Griffith University. The team designed a series of plates inspired by the shape of coral polyps, using 3D printing and molds to create different surface patterns.
Nature-inspired Surfaces
The plates were tested in tanks at the Monsoon Aquatics facilities in Bundaberg, Queensland, Australia. Corals of the genus Acropora attached successfully to the new surfaces, allowing the collection of relevant data on the influence of design on the attachment rate and growth.
On average, the plates developed by the team recorded an attachment rate more than four times higher than that observed on conventional flat ceramic tiles, used as a reference under the same conditions.
“Two years of experimentation with living systems, which requires time and patience. It is especially gratifying to obtain meaningful results,” says Despina Linaraki, highlighting that, in this case, “the corals were the clients,” so the focus was on creating habitats most conducive to their development and survival.
85 protótipos e nove desenhos biomiméticos
In total, nine biomimetic designs were developed using the Maya and Rhinoceros 3D programs, resulting in the production of 85 prototypes with 15 by 15 centimeters. The pieces were manufactured with five distinct materials — PETG 3D-printed, concrete, concrete with oyster shells, concrete with coral, and clay — and in seven different colors.
According to the researcher, the impact of architectural design on the construction of large-scale artificial reefs has been widely neglected, with no systematic studies that assess, in an integrated manner, the contribution of architecture to coral attachment and growth.
The research suggests that incorporating corals as central elements in the very structural design could give rise to “self-forming, self-adapting and self-sustaining” structures, reducing the need for additional resources over time and increasing the ecological services provided.
Contribution to the Recovery of the Great Barrier Reef
The work could have significant implications for the recovery of the Great Barrier Reef, considered one of Australia’s greatest natural treasures and currently subjected to multiple environmental pressures.
For Jonathan Moorhead, the scientific lead of Monsoon Aquatics, the research contributes to a better understanding of coral attachment preferences and to promoting optimal conditions for their initial growth, aligning with the company’s goals in sustainable aquaculture for the aquarium trade and reef restoration.
Also Daniel Kimberley, the company’s director, considers that the study reinforces the importance of conservation aquaculture as an essential component of large-scale reef restoration strategies, not only in Australia but globally.
The investigation, titled “Design and Fabrication of Bio-Enhancing Surfaces for Coral Settlement”, was published in the scientific journal Architecture and will continue to explore how materials and colors influence larval settlement, as well as the potential of ecological architecture in creating underwater structures that can sustain both marine life and human activities.
