In the 1970’s, Jamaica’s reefs were the pride of the Caribbean, teaming with large fish that supported a vibrant tourism industry and provided seafood for local communities. But overfishing, disease, hurricanes, and development pressure degraded many of these reefs in
Today, we returned to Holland High School to continue instructing students about the mangrove food web. We took students outside to participate in a hands-on food web activity. Each student received a different mangrove organism that they were to represent.
Today was our first day back at William Knibb High School. I was eager to see the students and to hear updates about how they have been growing their mangroves propagules in the classroom. We (me and Camilo Trench, partner
It’s sunny and warm outside and the students are eager to learn more about mangroves. I’m back in Jamaica for phase two of the Jamaica Awareness of Mangroves In Nature (J.A.M.I.N.) project. I’ve returned to provide more professional development training
Expedition Log: Palau – Day 21 Today is the last day the Global Reef Expedition’s mission to Palau. Over the last five weeks our team of scientists surveyed 85 different coral reefs, stretching from Angaur in the south, through the
Expedition Log: Palau – Day 20 While doing coral reef surveys in Palau we select sites to get a variety of different habitats while trying to cover as many reef systems as possible. Many of the dives we do are
Expedition Log: Palau – Day 19 Algae, often referred to as “seaweed,” are underwater “plants” that, unlike land plants, lack a vascular system. Algae live underwater and obtain water, nutrients, and sunlight directly from the environment. Because algae don’t need
Expedition Log: Palau – Day 18 When I was writing the blog for the Blue Coral (Heliopora coerulea) I found and learned about earlier in this mission, I came across a reference for Organ Pipe Coral (Tubipora musica). While Blue
Expedition Log: Palau – Day 17 On a recent dive while swimming along between coral photo transects on a patch reef in the lagoon near the tip of the Aiyasu Reef system, I spotted a Long Tentacle Mushroom Coral (Heliofungia
Expedition Log: Palau – Day 16 For the past few weeks I have descended into Palau’s waters each day with my two vital pieces of equipment: a tape measure reel and writing slate. My job on this mission is to
