Here’s why this PhD student is obsessed with ancient coral reefs

You’ve likely heard about people studying the bones of dinosaurs and extinct animals, but what if I told you there are people in this world who are studying corals from 10,000 years ago?

Yes, you heard that right. 

Digging (metaphorically and maybe even literally) into ancient corals is very much a real thing — and it all falls under the fascinating field of biodiversity and ecosystem research, especially through a lens called paleoecology.

That’s precisely what Mike Hynes is dedicating his PhD to. Instead of unearthing dinosaurs, he’s diving (literally) into the forgotten world of ancient coral reefs, nature’s time machines that hold clues to how oceans and ecosystems have transformed over thousands of years.

So, what’s with the obsession over corals? Why rewind the clock so far back? And what does any of this ancient ocean stuff mean for today’s world? That’s where Hynes’s work gets really exciting.

Hynes putting out coral transplants as part of his work with the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute and MarineGEO in Bocas del Toro, Panama. Source: Mike Hynes

Understanding the biodiversity and ecosystem dynamics of corals may save us all

Turns out, Hynes is onto something pretty major.

Earth’s always been a shape-shifter. Today, it’s warming fast, and sea levels are rising. The Solomon Islands are already famous for being the first “sinking islands” of this century — five islands have vanished beneath the waves.

And that’s just the beginning. In the next 30 years, Pacific Island nations such as Tuvalu, Kiribati, and Fiji will experience at least 15 centimetres of sea level rise, according to an analysis by NASA’s sea level change science team.

“There are so many islands that are already at sea level,” Hynes explains. “And we know that sea level is only going to rise further. So the big question is: how did islands survive sea level changes thousands of years ago, and what can that teach us today?”

To find those answers, Hynes is digging into the biodiversity and ecosystem patterns of islands in Indonesia, particularly in the Spermonde Archipelago in South Sulawesi.

His research focuses on the last 10,000 to 12,000 years, examining how these islands formed, how quickly they grew, and the starring roles corals and other reef organisms may’ve played in their survival.

Hynes with 4D-REEF colleagues Dedi, Masdar, Singgih, Astrid, and Dino, after completely a field collection day in the Spermonde Archipelago, Indonesia. Source: 4D-REEF

“These islands are just off the coast of a major Indonesian city with more than two million people,” Hynes says. “And here’s the kicker: more than half the islands are heavily populated. So, this isn’t just about science, it’s about real people and their homes.”

There are many low-lying islands around the globe, especially in Asia and Africa. And coral reefs? They’re often the unsung heroes protecting these islands from vanishing. But there’s a catch: we don’t have nearly enough long-term data on how these islands have evolved and survived.

That’s where Hynes steps in.

“Corals are dying off in many places, and islands are disappearing,” he says. “But the Spermonde Archipelago is a special case; its coral reefs are holding strong. That’s a story worth unpacking.”

And it’s not just about the past; his research also explores current issues like destructive fishing, coral bleaching, and how healthy reefs support local economies.

“If we don’t find real solutions,” Hynes warns, “entire communities might have to relocate. And that’s not the kind of solution we’re aiming for.”

Hynes (a Marie Sklodowska Curie Scholar for his PhD) posing with the Marie Sklodowska Curie statue in Warsaw, Poland. Source: Elizabeth Eaves

Before corals, it was dinosaurs that caught Hyne’s attention

Dinosaurs were Hynes’s first love.

“I grew up in Calgary, Alberta, right by the Rocky Mountains,” he says. “That area’s fossil central, so I was always surrounded by paleo-stuff as a kid. It sparked my curiosity early on.”

Like many dinosaur-loving kids, he dreamed of becoming a palaeontologist. And in 2006, he chased that dream, earning a BSc in Geology with a focus on Palaeontology at the University of Calgary.

But then life happened.

Right after graduation, the oil and minerals industry tanked. Jobs dried up, and Hynes found himself at a crossroads.

“So I thought, ‘Why not move to Australia for fun?’” he laughs. “That’s where I learned how to scuba dive and saw coral reefs for the first time. I was a total newbie, remember, I grew up landlocked! But I was hooked.”

Hynes in the Live Science exhibit at Naturalis Biodiversity Center (Leiden, the Netherlands) showing his work on Holocene Coral reefs to the public. Source: Elizabeth Eaves.

While living in Australia, Hynes took on truck driving jobs to pay the bills. But something kept tugging at him; he knew he wasn’t done with science.

Then came a lucky break: a research gig at the Smithsonian Tropical Research Institute in Panama. There, he worked for three years with both fossil and modern reef samples. It was a dream combo of his palaeontology background and newfound reef obsession.

After Panama, Hynes returned to Canada and truck driving. But one random scroll through the internet changed everything.

“I stumbled on the master’s programme in Palaeobiology at the University of Bristol,” he recalls. “It’s one of the most respected palaeontology programmes in the world.”

Naturally, he went for it. His MSc focused on — wait for it — fossil feathers from dinosaurs.

In 2018, he made his way to the University of Bristol to pursue an MSc in Palaeobiology. And as soon as he graduated, Hynes packed up and moved to the Netherlands, where he is currently completing a PhD in Biodiversity and Ecosystem Dynamics (Palaeoecology).  

“I jumped straight into my PhD after my MSc, and it lasts about five years, and this year is when I graduate,” he shares. “But the cool part is that I actually conduct my research through a museum, the Naturalis Biodiversity Centre, that’s linked to the university.” 

As you know, focusing on coral reefs is his thing. And funnily enough, it has come full circle for Hynes. His family were actually fishermen on the East Coast before moving to Calgary.

Today, Hynes hopes to carry on working in museums post-PhD.