1.5 KiB
1.5 KiB
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
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- avoid corals with white tips: they are growing, not sign if sickness
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- 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
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