Ningaloo Reef coral crossbred for first time to improve resilience against warming waters

Scientists are crossbreeding corals to help them survive in higher temperatures. (Supplied: Mindaroo Foundation)

Researchers have crossbred coral from Western Australia's Ningaloo Reef for the first time as part of efforts to improve resilience against bleaching events caused rising water temperatures.

The "assisted gene flow" technique they used has previously been used with coral from the Great Barrier Reef.