Precious corals in the Hawaiian islands take advantage of historic volcanic activities and erosion, growing on the slopes of sunken islands where they can best feed on particles floating by. At least 90 different species of gorgonians are found in the Hawaiian islands, Baco said. Several recent genetic studies of shallow water corals in the Mediterranean have shown evidence for genetic isolation of populations in both hard and soft corals, Baco said. This means that a fished out population in one area would deprive another area close by of the genetic diversity it needs to remain healthy. While the precious corals of Hawaii are closely related to the ones in the Mediterranean, it is not known whether they exhibit similar reproductive strategies.
Genetic differences account for the spectacular range of coral colors and shapes.
On a map, precious corals look like a tiny constellation orbiting the main Hawaiian islands. Researchers theorize that gold, red and pink coral there have dispersed and multiplied across the submerged islands in a stepping stone pattern. If gold corals need stepping stones, then if you fished out one of these beds along the way, it might be too great a distance for some of these corals to disperse, resulting in isolation of coral populations and reduced genetic diversity. Six dives in the Pisces V submersible to the precious corals beds of Makapuu and other sites were performed by Baco last summer. The lights of the Pisces V illuminated the brilliantly colored corals.