One of the most fabulous natural events whitout a doubt - Coral Spawning!
For a few nights a year, three-quarters of corals are spawning sexualy and externally. Millions of eggs and clouds of sperm are released into the water in a massive and synchronised event. You may imagine that swimming into this oceanic porn would seem anything but glamourous, and yet I assure you that being lucky enough to observe such a rare sight makes you realise the magic offered by our dear Blue Planet!
Daily life as an intern for the New Heaven Reef Conservation Program is exciting, demanding, and fulfilling work. Each day begins with an educational lecture, followed by an always productive project, either on land or (typically) underwater.
There is a vast array of lectures at New Heaven, including ecological monitoring surveying, coral nurseries and artificial reefs, giant clam nurseries, sea horses, nudibranchs, coral taxonomy and disease, sea turtles, sharks, and mooring line use and repair. Each lecture explains the ecological, economic, and social significance of the topic. We also learn about the practical ways that New Heaven facilitates change when issues pertaining to coral reefs arise in the local community and surrounding ecosystem. Let’s explore artificial reefs as an example.
If you read my previous blog, you’ve been introduced to the importance of coral reefs and why they deserve our respect, attention, and protection. But now the question is: What can you do to help? Here are some actions you can take to minimize the destruction and pressures that coral reefs face.
While Earth is of course a single planet, there are two distinct worlds amongst us, and one gets severely neglected. The world that most of us consider is terrestrial Earth. We appreciate the diversity of ecosystems, from mountains and plains, to deserts and jungles. As air breathers, this feels natural. But those who take the plunge into the seas know the marine world is just as important to Earth as its terrestrial counterpart. While the sea may look like a blanket of blue-green, beneath the surface is a diverse array of ecosystems. From the barren deep sea and abrupt mountainous pinnacles, to kelp forests and sea-grass beds, the marine world is an exceptional place. But one of the most important marine ecosystems are coral reefs. Now, more than ever, it is imperative that we understand why these ecosystems deserve our respect, attention, and protection.
