In an underwater nursery just off the Dominican Republic coast, tiny corals born in a laboratory are slowly growing under the eye of conservationists. It’s hoped that these corals, conceived through assisted reproduction, can help rescue reefs that have been devastated as oceans warm due to climate change. A biologist for the marine conservation organization Fundemar said assisted reproduction has become more important because natural reproduction is getting harder for these tiny animals. The technique is gathering momentum in the Caribbean. Coral reefs are important as fish habitat, for tourism and as protection against damaging waves.