Turtle watch

1% of seafloor but 33% of marine species
Protects coast: coral reefs prevent coastal erosion
Also mangroves!
Food source
Medicinal purposes 

Age: 500 million years
- great immune system
- Replace polyps really fast —> cancer treatment?


# what is bleeching
Energy source:
- zooxanthellae (mutualistic relationship)
	- Small algea living inside transparent polyps: symbiosis
	- 70-90% of energy is from zooxanthellae
- Predation: they eat worms! They have nesselzellen

Bleeching is a response to stress:
- Algaes leave (or are kicked out) because of stress
Corals can recover from bleeching

Corals can get pale (slightly bleeched)


## Threats

Utila has no water treatment: water all goes into the ocean! Use eco friendly products for corals

Responsible seafood guide

Recycle Aluminum
Recycle plastic bottles at marina
Greens (tracy collects compost )
Bica

# Fish
Parrotfish everywhere is great they act like the gardeners of the reef. 


# Coral Watch
- 20 colonies in one line (same depth) with a buddy
- Use divelight
- Shape: branching, boulder or plates
	- ![[image 6.jpg]]
- avoid corals with white tips: they are growing, not sign if sickness
	- ![[image 7.jpg]]
- No blue or purple corals
- No firecorals
Soft corals vs Hard corals
- if coral moves with current its a soft coral
- Octocorallia (8 tentacles) are soft coral
- He

Write down:
- shape
- Lightest area
- Darkest area
- Dive site
- Weather
- Depth
- Temperature 
- Date & time


# Survey Entry

Www.coralwatch.org
![[image 8.jpg]]