Rebotel Reef

We went to our offshore site a few weeks ago, in the meantime, we have been quite busy conducting a mirage of side projects, maintenance on the coral fragments that were placed at each of our sites, as well as collecting more coral. More details to come.

The surface view near Rebotel Reef.

Rebotel Reef is our offshore site that contrasts with Nikko Bay by experiencing much lower temperatures and a higher pH, conditions which are typically more ideal and less stressful to the susceptible coral animal and the tiny algal cells that reside within the coral.

Part of Rebotel Reef with our coral fragments ready to be attached to our arrays.

Stony coral are involved in a mutualistic relationship, beneficial for both, with small algae that live inside of them. Like plants, the algae photosynthesize turning sunlight into energy, which the coral uses. In turn,  the coral provide a safe place for the algae to reside. Coral-algal symbiosis is a result of millions of years of coevolution of stony coral and dinoflagellates (algae) of the genus currently identified as Symbiodinium.

Coral attached to our array with many many zip ties. Robin is drilling a hole to further secure our array against storms.

A close up of some of the species we are working with: Acropora muricata fragments on the left and Goniastrea aspera fragments on the right. 

The current grad students working on this project minus Kira Turnham, who joined us about half way through our trip