Location
Cauliflower Coral
Cauliflower coral, in the genus Pocillopora, are among the most widely distributed and most abundant corals found on the fore reef. These branching corals are covered with small bumps (called verrucae), which contain corallites and help in the identification of …
Coral population trajectories, increased disturbance and management intervention: a sensitivity analysis
Coral reefs worldwide, even remote reefs, are impacted by global change – a combined multitude of large-scale and local stressors. COTS impacts and bleaching are key drivers of coral degradation. This scientific article on coral population trajectories looks at increased …
Nightdive to Assess Coral Fluorescence
Joao Monteiro collects coral samples on a nightdive to assess coral fluorescence by measuring the photosynthetic efficiency of corals during the Global Reef Expedition.
Golden Shadow Dry Dock Photos
Fish Communities at the Acteon Group
During our surveys in the Acteon group we saw very few fish. There were few sharks or other large predators and even large herbivorous fish such as surgeonfishes and parrotfishes were noticeably low in number. The Acteon fish communities were …
Many Corals, Few Fish
We have arrived in Mangareva, having just completed surveys in the remote Acteon Group. Each of the four atolls we surveyed was small, about 5 to 10 km2 including the lagoon. This meant we were able to do all our …
Coral Bommies and Patch Reefs
Navigation hazards are many in Hao Atoll, due to a myriad of submerged patch reefs that rise to the surface from the 60 m deep lagoon floor. These reefs are distributed in a seemingly random pattern. Some are circular and …
Acidic Oceans
“Ocean acidification” is a term you may have heard in relation to coral reefs. As carbon dioxide increases in the air, the amount in the ocean goes up as well. The increased carbon dioxide makes the ocean water more acidic, …
Rolling Stones
Like other animals, corals need to reproduce to survive. Unlike most other animals, corals are attached to the seafloor and cannot move around to find a mate for coral reproduction. To address this challenge, corals have developed several alternative reproductive …
